why is the air quality bad today

The air quality is bad today mainly due to a combination of factors including wildfire smoke, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and in some regions, intense dust storms. Wildfire smoke is a significant contributor of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause health problems. Areas like Detroit and others have seen unhealthy air quality due to smoke combined with emissions from factories, traffic, and other sources. In certain cities like Doha, dust storms also worsen pollution on top of urban emissions. The poor air quality affects everyone but poses higher risks to sensitive groups such as those with asthma, and can cause both short- and long-term health effects including respiratory issues and increased risk of diseases like lung cancer. Efforts to mitigate these effects focus on staying indoors, using air purifiers, and policy changes to address pollution at its sources.