Canadian Wildfire Smoke Prompts Air Quality Alerts Across US
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Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
P.E.I. precipitation no longer in the range considered acid rain
After an air-quality agreement Canada signed in the 1990s, P.E.I.'s precipitation no longer falls into the range of acid rain. A few decades ago, there were concerns about precipitation quality in the eastern half of North America, including Prince Edward Island, with severe acid rain recorded throughout the region. In 1991, the federal government signed the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement , and many North American industries began to focus on creating products that were more sustainable for the environment. In a phone interview with The Guardian on July 4, UPEI biology professor Michael van den Heuvel explained the significance of the air quality agreement. 'While it was particularly about protecting the waters of the Great Lakes, that agreement was to reduce sulphur and nitrogen compounds,' he said. Acid rain may not be making the news anymore, but Prince Edward Island is still monitoring it. Acid rain is a phenomenon that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that falls to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. To improve air and water quality, industrial factories began to separate the sulphur compound by what is known as a scrubber, said van den Heuvel. 'It turns into gypsum, the same stuff in some people's walls. They were able to obtain quite dramatic reductions of sulphur very quickly, which was the main form of acid rain,' he added. While acid rain still can occur occasionally, it is less severe than it used to be, said van den Heuvel. P.E.I. has never had major impacts from acid rain, van den Heuvel said. It all has to do with the geology, he added. Because P.E.I.'s groundwater contains fair amounts of calcium and magnesium, it has been able to resist the acidic changes within the soil, said van den Heuvel. Emily Vanlderstine, the province's air and water monitoring supervisor, said while acid rain can have effects on freshwater aquatic species, including fish, amphibians and invertebrates sensitive to changes in pH, the water in P.E.I. helps protect these species. 'P.E.I.'s naturally alkaline waters help buffer the effects of acid rain, reducing its impact on wildlife. The alkaline conditions help neutralize acidity, so species found in P.E.I. waters are generally less affected compared to areas with lower pH levels,' she said. Vanlderstine said acid rain could also include forms of snow, fog, hail, or even acidic dust. 'Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a potential of hydrogen scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is. The higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the more alkaline it is,' she said. Normal rain consists of a pH of 5.6 due to the dissolving of carbon dioxide, forming weak carbonic acid, Vanlderstine said. She added that acid rain usually has a pH ranging between 4.2 and 4.4. In P.E.I., precipitation samples are collected at the Southampton air monitoring station at the eastern P.E.I. forestry office. The monitoring station is equipped with a collection system that gathers and stores precipitation for measurement, Vanlderstine said. A bucket is used to collect rainfall and other forms of precipitation, allowing for an accurate assessment of the accumulated volume, she added. 'Each week, the collected precipitation is transferred to sample bottles and sent to the P.E.I. analytical lab for chemical analysis,' Vanlderstine said. The station also features an automated sensor that detects precipitation events. 'When precipitation begins, the sensor triggers the opening of a protective lid, allowing rainfall and other precipitation to enter the collection bucket. Once precipitation stops, the lid automatically closes to prevent contamination,' Vanlderstine said. The average pH in 2024 was 6.1, Vanlderstine said. At this level, the acidity is mild and unlikely to cause significant harm to the environment, she added. 'Once a week, precipitation samples are collected and tested for pH along with several other parameters,' she said. Since 1982, samples have been collected to store and monitor the atmosphere above P.E.I. 'The annual average pH value has increased from 4.8 in 2004 to 6.1 in 2022. The average pH for the last five years is 6.2,' she said. Acid rain results when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents, Vanlderstine said. 'The sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground,' she said. The major sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, vehicles and heavy equipment emissions, manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached at ysasaki@ and followed on X @PEyutarosasaki . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Billion-dollar disasters: The economic toll of wildfires, severe storms and earthquakes is soaring
Weather disasters in the first half of this year have cost the United States $93 billion in damage, according to a report released Tuesday by a German multinational insurance company. The analysis by Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, found that more than 70% of all damage globally from weather disasters so far this year occurred in the U.S., with uninsured Americans and their local governments experiencing a whopping $22 billion in damage. The report shows the soaring economic toll that wildfires, severe storms and other extreme events are exacting in the U.S. and globally. The findings also highlight the growing insurance crisis playing out in parts of the country that are prone to frequent weather disasters. 'We have seen some 90% of all losses for the insurance industry — so 72 out of 80 billion U.S. dollars — have happened in the U.S.,' said Tobias Grimm, Munich Re's chief climate scientist. 'That's extraordinary.' The devastating wildfires in Southern California in January topped the list of the country's costliest disasters in the first half of 2025. The two largest fires, which killed at least 30 people and displaced thousands more, ripped through the communities in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, fanned by strong Santa Ana winds. Munich Re estimated that the wildfires caused $53 billion in losses, including about $13 billion in damages for residents without insurance. The reinsurer said the Los Angeles-area blazes resulted in the 'highest wildfire losses of all time.' The wildfires' huge economic and societal toll was due in part to increased development in fire-prone areas. 'Losses are on the rise because often properties are in harm's way,' Grimm said. 'People still live in high-risk areas.' Urban development in hazard-prone areas can similarly drive up the cost of other weather-related disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Studies have shown that climate change is making wildfires more frequent because of warmer temperatures and worsening drought conditions. Blazes are also becoming more intense, as a result. A report released in late January from the World Weather Attribution group found that the hot, dry and windy conditions that helped the fires consume large swaths of Southern California were about 35% more likely because of human-caused global warming. Munich Re's own earnings have been affected by the L.A. wildfires, as was reported by CNBC. Profits were down a total of $1.9 billion for Munich Re and Hannover Re (another German reinsurer), according to their first-quarter earnings reports. Other major disasters in the U.S. so far included severe storms in March that caused $6.7 billion in damage, a series of tornadoes in May that caused about $5 billion in losses, and severe storms and flooding in April that caused $4 billion in damage. Overall, 'severe convective storms' — ones that produce excessive rainfall, strong winds, tornadoes or large hail — caused $34 billion in damage in the U.S. from January through June, according to Munich Re. Of that, $8 billion were uninsured losses, the company found, which included damage to roads and public schools. Outside of the U.S., a tropical cyclone that hit Australia in late February dumped heavy rain over parts of Queensland and New South Wales, causing an estimated $3.5 billion in damage. Internationally, the costliest disaster so far this year wasn't climate-related: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar in late March. An estimated 4,500 people died after the quake rattled the cities of Sagaing and Mandalay and surrounding areas. And a magnitude-6 earthquake that struck Taiwan in January caused $1.3 billion in losses, according to Munich Re. The insurance company's report comes months after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it would stop tracking the economic toll of the United States' costliest extreme weather events. The elimination of NOAA's 'Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters' yearly reports was seen by critics as yet another way that the Trump administration has cut back or eliminated climate science at federal agencies. A NOAA spokesperson previously told NBC News that the decision to discontinue the database was made 'in alignment with evolving priorities and staffing changes.' Grimm said it's 'vital' to collaborate with NOAA and other government agencies to ensure that these types of reports contain accurate data. The resulting analyses can, for instance, be used by insurance companies and government officials to shape policies, and they are particularly important as billion-dollar disasters become more frequent. 'The probability of extreme weather is changing,' Grimm said, 'so we need to adapt and, of course, to mitigate future losses.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Microbix Launches QUANTDx™ Characterized Reference Materials
New Product Line Supporting Diagnostic Assay Manufacturers MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix®), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, announces the commercial launch of QUANTDx™, a new product line of well-characterized reference materials designed to support the development and validation of diagnostic assays. QUANTDx is being launched at ADLM 2025, the conference of the Association for Diagnostic & Laboratory Medicine being held in Chicago, USA July 28-31, at which Microbix is exhibiting. The QUANTDx product line features accurately-quantified and fully-traceable reference materials that enable assay developers to establish key analytical performance metrics — such as LoD (limit of detection), Sensitivity (positive accuracy), and Specificity (negative accuracy) — that are essential for regulatory submissions and validation. The initial QUANTDx launch includes over 80 such reference materials that cover six of the most commonly tested disease panels, namely the following types of infections — fungal, human papillomaviruses, gastrointestinal, meningitis, respiratory, and sexually-transmitted. This comprehensive product line addresses a critical need within the infectious disease diagnostics industry for high-quality, reliable, and standardized reference materials. QUANTDx complements Microbix's established Quality Assessment Products (QAPs™) portfolio, which includes the industry-recognized PROCEEDx™ (RUO) and REDx™ Controls (IVD) products. Together, these product lines address a broad spectrum of quality-related needs across the diagnostic development lifecycle—from assay design, validation, and quality release through to end-user training and ongoing quality control. This holistic support reinforces Microbix's role as a trusted partner to the global diagnostics industry. Cameron Groome, CEO & President of Microbix, commented, 'The launch of QUANTDx represents a strategic expansion of our capabilities to serve assay developers and clinical laboratories. By leveraging our in-house portfolio of organisms and expertise in nucleic acid quantification, we are confident in delivering reliable and reproducible reference materials to streamline assay development and validation.' Phil Casselli, SVP of Sales and Business Development at Microbix, added, 'We are thrilled by the support we've received from prospective customers for QUANTDx. It's clear that there is strong, unmet demand for high-quality, and fully-quantified reference materials across the diagnostics industry. We believe this launch will provide Microbix with more opportunities to support assay developers, clinical labs, and manufacturers worldwide. We fully expect QUANTDx™ to drive revenue growth and expand our global customer base.' Further information about QUANTDx is available at while purchase enquiries for QUANTDx can be e-mailed to About Microbix Biosystems Biosystems Inc. creates proprietary biological products for human health, with over 120 skilled employees and revenues targeting C$ 2.0 million or more per month. It enables the worldwide commercialization of diagnostic assays by making a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™) and reference materials (QUANTDx™) that support clinical lab proficiency-testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs or QUANTDx are sold to clinical lab accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical labs. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, supported by a network of international distributors. Microbix is ISO 9001 & 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides IVDR-compliant CE marked products. Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots, and reagents or media to support molecular diagnostic testing (e.g., its DxTM™ for patient-sample collection). Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes 'forward-looking information,' as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of the QUANTDx product line or its relevance, Microbix's or others' products or services, business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced in its presentations, regulatory compliance and approvals, access and sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity or timeliness of delivery), currency exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital or raising new capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements about anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Microbix cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and actual performance may be affected by many material factors, some of which are beyond its control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent Microbix's judgement as of the date of this new release, and it is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Please visit or for recent Microbix news and filings. For further information, please contact Microbix at: Cameron Groome, CEO(905) 361-8910 Jim Currie, CFO(905) 361-8910 Deborah Honig, Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647) 203-8793 ir@ Copyright © 2025 Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix®, DxTM®, Kinlytic®, PROCEEDx™, QAPs™, QUANTDx™, and REDx™ are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
