Saskatchewan Roughriders supporters faced a challenging evening at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium on Friday, enduring multiple delays before the game was eventually postponed more than three hours after its scheduled start time. While the Roughriders game was halted, other sports events in Saskatchewan proceeded despite the widespread wildfire smoke affecting the province over the weekend.
Decisions to postpone or cancel sporting events due to air quality vary depending on factors such as the sport, intensity of physical exertion, duration of exposure, and the age of participants, according to Madeline Orr, an assistant professor specializing in sport ecology at the University of Toronto. Orr highlighted the absence of a uniform policy across different sports leagues, including the Canadian Football League which has air pollution guidelines but no strict rules in place.
Orr emphasized the importance of halting sports activities when the air quality poses risks, particularly in the case of wildfire smoke, which can be hazardous due to the minuscule size of its particles that can penetrate deeply into the respiratory system. As wildfire smoke increasingly emerges as a health concern, decisions regarding whether to proceed with sporting events often involve assessing various air quality indexes and understanding their implications for individual health.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), serves as a tool to evaluate the health risks associated with different air pollutants on a scale of one to ten. Céline Audette, the manager of health and air quality forecast services at ECCC, explained that AQHI ratings above five indicate heightened risk for vulnerable individuals and those with pre-existing conditions, while a rating of seven suggests precautions should be taken by the general population. An AQHI rating of ten signifies health risks for everyone with potential adverse health effects from exposure.
Experts pointed out that variations in air quality readings can occur due to factors like proximity to pollution sources and airflow patterns. Different countries may utilize varying scales and methodologies for assessing air quality, with Canada focusing on health impacts rather than just regulatory standards. ECCC’s national air pollution surveillance program, which operates over 130 monitoring stations across Canada, employs models to predict air quality and health ratings in areas without direct monitoring.
The onset of wildfires in 2024 prompted ECCC to enhance its monitoring frequency due to the hazardous nature of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) present in wildfire smoke. This type of pollution, with particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres, poses serious health risks as it can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and even reach the brain. As a result, monitoring stations in Canada began providing hourly air quality data to address the immediate health concerns posed by wildfire smoke.
In Prince Albert, located northwest of Mosaic Stadium, the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup tournament continued despite the presence of wildfire smoke. Tournament officials relied on air quality information from various sources, including Softball Canada and Softball Saskatchewan, to assess the situation and ensure that air quality levels remained within safe limits for the participants.
Overall, the decision-making process regarding sporting events during periods of poor air quality involves considering multiple factors, including air quality indexes, health guidelines, and the specific risks posed by pollutants like wildfire smoke. Understanding these complexities is crucial for safeguarding the well-being of athletes and spectators in such situations.