Wildfires: what are the health risks of smoke? - Meersens (2024)

FAQs

Wildfires: what are the health risks of smoke? - Meersens? ›

These smokes are immediately dangerous and are responsible for asphyxiation, coughing and burning sensations on the eyes, nose and skin, a reduction in lung function and, in more severe cases, death. These fumes may contain compounds classified as carcinogenic to humans (benzene, formaldehyde, etc.).

Fine particles from smoke (fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5) can travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Inhaling fine particles can cause a variety of health effects, like respiratory irritation and shortness of breath. It can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

Wildfire smoke can be extremely harmful to the lungs, especially for children, older adults and those with asthma, COPD and bronchitis or a chronic heart disease or diabetes. Even if you don't live near wooded areas, you can learn more on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

In fact, Nadeau estimates an AQI of 150 is equivalent to smoking an estimated seven cigarettes a day for someone spending the majority of their time outdoors. "We try to do the cigarette equivalent, but most likely the wildfire smoke is much more toxic than a cigarette," Nadeau said.

However, “the available studies … have demonstrated that short-term and long-term wildfire smoke exposure is associated with increased risk for several types of cancers, greater mortality from several cancers, worse survival following treatment of certain cancers, and more barriers to accessing cancer care,” said Raj ...

A: Based on studies conducted on controlled burns and wildfires in the Southwestern United States, the amount of radioactive material that is released during a fire is extremely low and would lead to little, if any, increase in radiation exposure.

But a new paper published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation by University of New Mexico Health Sciences scientists gives new cause for alarm, finding that wildfire smoke can trigger inflammation in the brain that persists for a month or more.

Mild symptoms should subside within 24 to 48 hours after smoke exposure ends. If your symptoms do not improve, check in with your primary care provider. If you have severe symptoms, especially if you have an existing lung condition, Dr. Ronaghi suggests seeking medical care immediately in an acute or emergency setting.

How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Indoor Air Quality? Outdoor air, including fine particles from wildfire smoke, can enter your home in a few ways: through open windows and doors, which is known as natural ventilation.

Smoky Air Can Increase Wrinkles and Dark Spots

That means unhealthy wildfire smoke byproducts, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, can literally get under your skin where they can provoke unhealthy responses to their presence.

Is wildfire smoke worse than a campfire? ›

Immune markers and pollutant levels in the blood indicate wildfire smoke may be more harmful to children's health than smoke from a controlled burn, Stanford researchers found. California has been the site of several wildfires in recent years, including this one last August near Lake Elsinore in Southern California.

A temperature inversion is when warm air “caps” cooler air, causing smoke to become trapped in valley bottoms at night and in the early morning. The trapped smoke generally begins to lift after the sun rises and heats the earth's surface.

And some particles, of course, are also removed from the atmosphere because they go into our lungs — the most immediate threat to our health. The bottom line is: Pollution is very hard to destroy. “It never goes away,” Bein says. “It goes somewhere.”

For many people, the symptoms of inhaling particulate matter are similar to what someone with allergies experiences: stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, coughing, sinus irritation, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Breathing in smoke can also cause headaches, fatigue, and a fast heartbeat.

After a wildfire: Look out for any symptoms. Less commonly, exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to stroke, heart attack and premature death. People with underlying cardiovascular disease risk factors may be at risk for an acute cardiovascular event when exposed to wildfire smoke.

Even brief exposures to wildfire smoke can irritate your nose, leading to sneezing, congestion and the sniffles, he said. Smoke can also trigger additional nasal issues, including flare-ups of allergy symptoms and increased vulnerability to sinus infections.

Fine, inhalable particulate matter (PM2. 5) is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke because it can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream.

Both extreme heat and wildfire smoke air pollution (especially particulate matter, PM) induce neuroinflammatory and cerebrovascular effects, oxidative stress, and cognitive impairment, however the combined effect of these impacts are not well understood.

Less commonly, exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to stroke, heart attack and premature death. People with underlying cardiovascular disease risk factors may be at risk for an acute cardiovascular event when exposed to wildfire smoke.

These toxins can damage lung tissue, and lead to low blood oxygen levels or high blood carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels. This can cause confusion and stupor, sometimes making animals more vulnerable to predation as they attempt to flee wildfires. Unfortunately, these lung injuries can last much longer than the fire itself.