A special air quality statement remains in effect for Windsor-Essex, due to smoke plumes from forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario.
That's resulted in deteriorated air quality, which is expected to persist into the weekend.
Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations.
Chief of Staff at Windsor Regional Hospital, Dr. Wassim Saad, says a lot of times they're not exactly certain what the impact will be on normal, healthy people.
He says they do know one of the components of the smoke is something called PAHs, which is short for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that can get in the lung stream due to how small the particles are.
"So anyone can really inhale it, it can get down into the deep parts of the lungs, and even be absorbed into the blood stream. So for now the recommendation is to ensure that anyone who has existing lung disease, or even heart disease, because of the fact that it can get into the blood stream and cause inflammation should try to avoid being outside for any prolonged periods of time," he said.
Dr. Saad says those who are very young, or in the older age groups, should try to limit their time outside as well.
"If you have the benefit of being indoors or being in an air conditioned environment that would be much safer, because we know that these types of particles in smoke if inhaled for a long period of time can lead to lung damage, exacerbate underlying lung conditions, and also even exacerbate underlying cardiac conditions as well."
He says the first reaction when dealing with this kind of smoke is for the lungs to constrict, as the airways narrow to try and prevent more particles from getting into the lungs.
"And this is why patients or people with underlying lung conditions like asthma or emphysema for example, or fibrosis, already have lungs that are compromised and that are sometimes constricted," he continued. "So inhaling something that could cause further constriction will lead to more wheezing and more shortness of breathe."
Dr. Saad says even healthy people with no underlying health conditions can sometimes feel the effects when exposed to prolonged periods of smoke by feeling a bit short of breathe and possibly develop some wheezing.
He says people should think twice about outdoor activities like walking or running until the air quality improves.
- with files from AM800's Patty Handysides