Environment Canada urges residents to limit their time outdoors. But even when inside, most buildings can only reduce airborne pollutants by half.

Environment Canada is warning of poor air quality and extreme heat in Toronto on Monday as southern Ontario braces for a week filled with hot and humid weather.

The poor air quality that has blanketed swaths of central and Western Canada is not only infiltrating the lungs, but also distressing the mind.

With various air quality indexes available, and as wildfire smoke becomes an increasing health risk, here’s what often goes into the decision to play sports or not — and how to make sense of air quality indexes when making your own decision.

Environment Canada is warning of poor air quality and extreme heat in Toronto on Monday as southern Ontario braces for a week filled with hot and humid weather.

Expect deteriorating air quality across parts of Ontario heading into the new workweek as upper-level winds blow wildfire smoke into the region. Some of the smoke could mix down to the surface, lowering air quality from northern Ontario to the Greater Toronto Area.

While some organizations have published clear air quality thresholds or contingency protocols for wildfire smoke, FIFA's plans remain unclear less than a year out from the 2026 World Cup.