With the recent rise in wildfires seen worldwide, escalating amounts of air pollution have caused an increase in air quality warnings. The health risks associated with poor air quality have brought about the recurring cancellation of Edina High School’s activities and sports practices. 

A major contributor to the worsening air quality is the wildfires that have run rampant throughout Canada since earlier this year. These wildfires have resulted in the formation of an excessive amount of smoke, which has traveled south and made its way to Minnesota. According to an article published by the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, it is very likely that we will continue to see frequent air quality warnings until these wildfires cease, as there are almost 500 currently active in Canada. 

Because of the potential risks that come with poor air quality, practices for sports and various activities are just not realistic. “I feel like we have wildfires every year but I didn’t think it was going to [have] so much [impact],” junior rower Addie Botts said. “There’s been a lot more cancellations this year than there have been in the past which is kind of annoying… we’ve had to adapt.”

Adding to the problem is the uncertainty that comes with the frequency of these warnings. “The problem isn’t necessarily with practice being called off, it’s the idea that you can’t really do anything about it,” senior tennis player Elena Loucks said. “You can go inside or try to practice inside, but the idea that you can’t control the weather and [that it instead] controls you and you can’t do anything about it… it’s really frightening a lot of the time especially when you notice it getting more frequent.” 

Even with Minnesota’s air quality being relatively clean compared to other states, the risks remain. According to Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Dr. Jesse Berman, it is also possible that we see these warnings continue through winter because of inversions, which occur when warm air in the atmosphere traps and forces colder air to the ground. With inversions, pollution is allowed to build up to unhealthy levels, so students may continue seeing cancellations well into the year.

Source:

https://www.sph.umn.edu/news/talking-minnesota-air-quality-with-sphs-jesse-berman/