Canada Wildfire smoke reaches Delmarva, health officials warn against outdoor activity

DELMARVA –  With wildfires burning in Eastern Canada smoke is being funneled into the east coast including the Delmarva Peninsula.

Wednesday saw Salisbury hit 212 on the Air Quality Index, Bridgeville hitting 230, with Delmarva hovering between healthy and unhealthy levels.

Health officials from the MDE and Wicomico County Health Department issued an alert against strenuous outdoor activity for younger and older populations, as well as recommended the general population limit their time outdoors.

“Even when I saw patients this morning some of my asthmatic and CO PD patients are experiencing dysthymia and increased work of breathing, so they are aware they brought their oxygen and inhalers with them there are going out only for the medical appointment and heading back home,” said Dr. Victor Banzon of Beebe Hospital.

He tells for patients with asthma, COPD, and other conditions, the poor air quality will continue to affect the ease of breathing as it continues to stick around.

He tells us the particulate matter found in the smoke is known to be carcinogenic.