Wildfire smoke is becoming a nationwide health threat

We do know that this kind of smoke contains chemicals that are toxic, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, black carbon (soot), acids and oxidizing compounds. Exposure to some of these compounds can lead to lung irritation, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and even death. We know this because researchers have studied smoke exposure in firefighters for many years, and it’s likely that the risks also apply to people who aren’t firefighters.

When the smoke moves in
Research has shown that many health effects from air pollution occur well after exposure has occurred. Sometimes these problems occur within a few hours, but in other cases it can be days or weeks later. This means that people may not feel the impacts of smoke inhalation until well after the smoke clears.

The most effective strategy is to limit exposure to poor-quality air through steps such as avoiding the outdoors when possible, closing windows and doors, and running central heat or air conditioning systems, which for the most part recirculate indoor air. For outdoor protection, the best option is an N95 facemask, which is designed to fit snugly and filter out very small particles. Inexpensive cloth masks do not provide effective protection.

However, it can be difficult to achieve a good fit with N95 masks, and these masks are not very effective at removing toxic gases from smoke, which easily pass through the filter material. Avoiding exposure in the first place is the best strategy.

Communities that are frequently exposed to wildfire smoke should consider creating locations where they can provide high-quality air filtration, such as a school or community center. These sites could offer safer conditions for people who are especially vulnerable to air pollution, such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory ailments, in the same way that cities set up heating and cooling centers during extreme weather conditions.

Many factors appear to be increasing the number and scale of wildfires, including development patterns and forest management practices. But the biggest driver is likely to be climate change, which is making ecosystems hotter and drier. This suggests that all Americans, wherever they live, will need to become more aware of wildfires and their long-range health effects.

Richard E. Peltier is Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst. This article is published courtesy of The Conversation.