(Radio Iowa) – State officials have issued a statewide Air Quality Alert due to thick smoke from Canadian wildfires that’s been pushed into Iowa. Air quality levels in northwest Iowa have been in the unhealthy category today (Tuesday). Todd Russell is an environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“The National Weather Service has an air quality model and Canada has the ‘Blue Skies’ model,” Russell said. “Both of those show a lot of particulate matter in Iowa through Wednesday night.” According to the D-N-R, a band of wildfire smoke is moving into Iowa from the north, with the heaviest smoke stretching from southwest through the northeast. Officials recommend that Iowans limit intensive physical activities outdoors and take more breaks until air quality conditions improve.

Smoky air is of greatest risk to older adults and young children as well as people with heart or lung disease. Minnesota officials issued a statewide air quality alert yesterday (Monday). Jesse Carr, an epidemiologist with Minnesota’s Department of Health, says air pollution can affect anyone.  “Folks that do not have asthma can still experience symptoms,” she says, “shortness of breath, burning in your lungs.”

In late April, the U-S Environmental Protection Agency advised that during periods of heavy smoke, Americans should to consider replacing the filters in air purifiers and H-VAC systems more often than is advised by manufacturers.