The summer of 2023 has seen a continued spike in hazardous air quality levels across the United States as smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada drifts south. In early June, New York City’s smog was so bad that it officially had the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to air quality technology company IQAir. Later in June, dangerous smog from air pollution covered much of the Midwest.
These extreme fire events and their long smoke trails point to a larger and worrisome trend: wildfires are getting worse, longer, and more frequent, primarily because of climate change.
So, how can you stay safe in America’s smog-filled future? Follow along here for Vox’s coverage of how to interpret the Air Quality Index, how to protect your health as AQI rises, and possible solutions to the threat of air pollution in the United States.
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Air quality index and how to use it, explained
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If you can’t breathe well, neither can your pet
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How to improve your indoor air with outdoor smoke
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Why are fires burning in eastern Canada – and when will the smoke clear?
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The air we breathed was getting better. Then climate change hit.
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Smoky air puts everyone at risk — but it’s worse for some
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We can’t just run away from the fire
