Wildfire smoke makes air quality in Colorado Springs among worst in the world

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- If you're having trouble breathing in Colorado this Labor Day, the reason is because of the thick smoke in the air that has drifted south from wildfires burning in northern Colorado.

But because of that thick smoke, Colorado Springs is dealing with some of the worst air quality in the entire world among major cities on Monday.

That's according to IQAir, which tracks air quality in real time around the world.

On Monday at around 6 p.m., parts of Colorado Springs saw air quality indexes ranging from 125 near central Springs to 176 near Fort Carson. That AQI of 176 ranks even higher than Hanoi, Vietnam, and Shangai, China, which IQAir ranks as the worst two major cities for air quality.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an AQI over 150 is labeled as "unhealthy" and can be harmful for sensitive groups.

The smoke is being carried from the Cameron Peak Fire, which grew to nearly 90,000 acres as of Monday afternoon, and the Williams Fork Fire.

But California, which is also dealing with a rash of wildfires, has some cities with AQIs tallying in over 200. In Winters, California, the air quality index was 450, which puts people at serious risk of respiratory effects.