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.

Canada had some of the worst air quality in North America on Tuesday morning according to waqi.info, the website for the World Air Quality Index project. See how your community ranks.

And even if you don’t feel any discomfort on your run, it doesn’t mean there’s no harm being done. The pollutants can have long-term effects such as reduced lung function, increased risk of respiratory infections and can be linked to countless other health issues.

The heat warning issued last Friday for the Ottawa-Gatineau region should last until Thursday night, according to Environment Canada. Special air quality statements also linger Tuesday in western Quebec.

Air quality alerts are in place until 11pm ET several New York ... An additional round of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across southern Canada is expected to transport into northern Minnesota on Tuesday. In Illinois, the Air Pollution Action Day ...

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.

Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton can all expect elevated air pollution levels again Tuesday. Environment and Climate Change Canada has once again issued a special weather statement for the region. This time, the weather office says weather conditions are expected to cause increasing levels of ozone.