Invisible – and yet affecting all of us – it is hard to think of air quality as a stressor to our quality of life. However, the Canadian wildfires of 2023 brought the reality of air quality issues to the Inland Bays. For days, the air took on an orange color, and for folks who are sensitive to changes in air quality, recommendations were to stay inside.
Typically, air is contaminated by particulates (small bits of dust and debris) that can irritate the lungs when they are inhaled; over the long term, this can lead to illness. The same concerns apply to the wildlife in our watershed. Other airborne contaminants can also be found in microplastics, nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon dioxide. Some of these can settle into our watershed and affect other parts of the ecosystem.
