Air quality alert called off as wildfire smoke drifts away from Edmonton

Heavy smoke from B.C. wildfiresthat driftedinto Edmonton Monday morning is beginning to clear, and a special air quality statement for the area has been called off.

Environment Canada issued the statement Sunday night as air quality took a nosedive in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

On Monday morning, Edmonton had reached a level 7 on the Air Quality Health Index, a tool used to measure health risk associated with air quality. A level 7 is considered "high risk."

By mid-morning that risk level had dropped to a level 3, considered "low risk" for air pollution, and Environment Canada called off the air quality statement just before 11 a.m.

Environment Canada says a cold front moving in should push the smoke further out of the region throughout the day.

• Air quality alert issued for Edmonton and surrounding areas Sunday night

The smokeled to reducedvisibility in the Edmonton area Sunday night and Monday morning.Smoky conditions can result incoughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. These symptoms may be worse in people with certain health issues.