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What wildfire smoke means for your heath

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025

The fires burning across Los Angeles County have caused billowing dark plumes of smoke, posing a major health threat even as quick-moving flames blowtorched homes, schools and other buildings.As the fires continue to rage and air quality worsens, the risk of health problems escalate. That’s because wildfire smoke contains fine particulates, known as PM2.5, which are one-seventieth the width of a single human hair and can easily infiltrate the heart and lungs.While the fires are currently concentrated on the West Coast, the threat isn’t limited to that region. Residents around the country need to be cautious because wildfire smoke can travel, said Susan Anenberg, chair of environmental and occupational health department at George Washington University.“The smoke is not containable. The smoke goes where it goes,” Anenberg said.Here’s what you need to know about the health effects of wildfire smoke and how to protect yourself.What are the components of wildfire smoke?PM2.5 from wildfire smoke is an invisible, yet dangerous component of smoke and soot.Wildfire smoke is particularly harmful because it includes other hazardous chemicals produced from burning common household products such as electronics, plastics, aerosols and other items, Anenberg said. The mix of materials from homes, vehicles and buildings is enough to cause concerns about short- and long-term biological harm, she said.What are the health risks of smoke exposure?PM2.5 particulates are so small that they can be inhaled through your lungs and enter the bloodstream. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PM2.5 “is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke.”“Once [the particles are] in the bloodstream they can affect every organ of the body,” Anenberg said.And the harmful particles aren’t isolated to outdoor air: Both indoor and outdoor air can be affected by air pollution and can cause health damage.Exposure can trigger short-term respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and asthma exacerbation, according to the EPA. Breathing in smoke can also irritate your sinuses, throat and eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anenberg said black particles in your nose also indicate exposure.In more severe cases, exposure is linked to heart attacks and stroke, as well as lung cancer and damage to cognitive functions. There is also a growing body of research that links wildfire smoke to long-term neurological effects such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.“Whether or not those turn into some health outcome, some subset of people that have that exposure will experience effects and cardiovascular effects,” Anenberg said.Is it safe to breathe wildfire smoke? And in what quantities?The EPA strengthened its limits on fine particulate matter last February, lowering the annual soot standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down 12 micrograms. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards still recommends 35 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period.But during wildfires and smoky conditions, concentrations tend to get higher than that. Anenberg said there can still be health effects at and below the EPA threshold.The Air Quality Index — a measure of outdoor air pollution — can also be a helpful tool in determining the safety of air. The index ranges from 0 to 500. Healthy or Code Green is considered below 50. Code Orange means that the AQI is between 101 and 150, meaning that sensitive groups may experience health effects but the general public is unlikely to be affected. Code Red, 151 to 200, means that the air is unhealthy for more members of the public. Code Purple, 201 to 300, means that everyone faces increased health effects. Code Maroon, 301 to 500, is considered hazardous for everyone and could trigger strong irritations and health effects for the general public.To Irva Hertz-Picciotto, director of the University of California Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center, the more particulate matter people breathe, the higher their risk for respiratory issues and other adverse health harms.“We know that the more particulate matter, the worse,” she said.How deadly is air pollution?PM2.5 smoke in general is associated with premature death, Anenberg said. “These fine particles are some of the worst offenders when it comes to global health risk factors,” she said.The World Health Organization states that indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually. Research published by the Lancet Planetary Health journal found that air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat and accounted for 6.7 million premature deaths in 2019.Children, the elderly and those with preexisting conditions are most vulnerable to high levels of PM2.5, said Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental health and medicine at the University of Washington, and in some cases it can lead to death.What you can do to protect yourselfEveryone is vulnerable to the risks posed by wildfire smoke — even healthy people, according to the CDC.Here’s what experts suggest you do to keep yourself safe:Remove yourself from the threat. If you’re under an evacuation order and are able to evacuate, do it. Moving away from the flames could help reduce high levels of exposure. While you’re driving, put the air on the recirculate setting.Wear a mask. The type of mask matters. Because the particles from wildfire smoke are so fine, experts recommend wearing an N95 mask — ones that we are all familiar with from the pandemic — to block particles.Reduce your exposure. Close your windows and doors to protect the indoor environment. You can try to filter the particles before they enter your home by using an air filter or a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with good-quality air filters. A portable air purifier can also help. “You want to be trying to remove the particles from the outdoor air before it gets into the indoor environment or remove it from the air once it’s within the indoor environment,” Anenberg said.Be aware of your local air quality. There are numerous apps and websites that provide real-time data on air quality.Allyson Chiu contributed to this report.

As fires rage in the Los Angeles area, the health risks from air pollution mount. Here’s what to know.

The fires burning across Los Angeles County have caused billowing dark plumes of smoke, posing a major health threat even as quick-moving flames blowtorched homes, schools and other buildings.

As the fires continue to rage and air quality worsens, the risk of health problems escalate. That’s because wildfire smoke contains fine particulates, known as PM2.5, which are one-seventieth the width of a single human hair and can easily infiltrate the heart and lungs.

While the fires are currently concentrated on the West Coast, the threat isn’t limited to that region. Residents around the country need to be cautious because wildfire smoke can travel, said Susan Anenberg, chair of environmental and occupational health department at George Washington University.

“The smoke is not containable. The smoke goes where it goes,” Anenberg said.

Here’s what you need to know about the health effects of wildfire smoke and how to protect yourself.

What are the components of wildfire smoke?

PM2.5 from wildfire smoke is an invisible, yet dangerous component of smoke and soot.

Wildfire smoke is particularly harmful because it includes other hazardous chemicals produced from burning common household products such as electronics, plastics, aerosols and other items, Anenberg said. The mix of materials from homes, vehicles and buildings is enough to cause concerns about short- and long-term biological harm, she said.

What are the health risks of smoke exposure?

PM2.5 particulates are so small that they can be inhaled through your lungs and enter the bloodstream. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PM2.5 “is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke.”

“Once [the particles are] in the bloodstream they can affect every organ of the body,” Anenberg said.

And the harmful particles aren’t isolated to outdoor air: Both indoor and outdoor air can be affected by air pollution and can cause health damage.

Exposure can trigger short-term respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and asthma exacerbation, according to the EPA. Breathing in smoke can also irritate your sinuses, throat and eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anenberg said black particles in your nose also indicate exposure.

In more severe cases, exposure is linked to heart attacks and stroke, as well as lung cancer and damage to cognitive functions. There is also a growing body of research that links wildfire smoke to long-term neurological effects such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“Whether or not those turn into some health outcome, some subset of people that have that exposure will experience effects and cardiovascular effects,” Anenberg said.

Is it safe to breathe wildfire smoke? And in what quantities?

The EPA strengthened its limits on fine particulate matter last February, lowering the annual soot standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down 12 micrograms. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards still recommends 35 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period.

But during wildfires and smoky conditions, concentrations tend to get higher than that. Anenberg said there can still be health effects at and below the EPA threshold.

The Air Quality Index — a measure of outdoor air pollution — can also be a helpful tool in determining the safety of air. The index ranges from 0 to 500. Healthy or Code Green is considered below 50. Code Orange means that the AQI is between 101 and 150, meaning that sensitive groups may experience health effects but the general public is unlikely to be affected. Code Red, 151 to 200, means that the air is unhealthy for more members of the public. Code Purple, 201 to 300, means that everyone faces increased health effects. Code Maroon, 301 to 500, is considered hazardous for everyone and could trigger strong irritations and health effects for the general public.

To Irva Hertz-Picciotto, director of the University of California Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center, the more particulate matter people breathe, the higher their risk for respiratory issues and other adverse health harms.

“We know that the more particulate matter, the worse,” she said.

How deadly is air pollution?

PM2.5 smoke in general is associated with premature death, Anenberg said. “These fine particles are some of the worst offenders when it comes to global health risk factors,” she said.

The World Health Organization states that indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually. Research published by the Lancet Planetary Health journal found that air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat and accounted for 6.7 million premature deaths in 2019.

Children, the elderly and those with preexisting conditions are most vulnerable to high levels of PM2.5, said Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental health and medicine at the University of Washington, and in some cases it can lead to death.

What you can do to protect yourself

Everyone is vulnerable to the risks posed by wildfire smoke — even healthy people, according to the CDC.

Here’s what experts suggest you do to keep yourself safe:

  • Remove yourself from the threat. If you’re under an evacuation order and are able to evacuate, do it. Moving away from the flames could help reduce high levels of exposure. While you’re driving, put the air on the recirculate setting.
  • Wear a mask. The type of mask matters. Because the particles from wildfire smoke are so fine, experts recommend wearing an N95 mask — ones that we are all familiar with from the pandemic — to block particles.
  • Reduce your exposure. Close your windows and doors to protect the indoor environment. You can try to filter the particles before they enter your home by using an air filter or a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with good-quality air filters. A portable air purifier can also help. “You want to be trying to remove the particles from the outdoor air before it gets into the indoor environment or remove it from the air once it’s within the indoor environment,” Anenberg said.
  • Be aware of your local air quality. There are numerous apps and websites that provide real-time data on air quality.

Allyson Chiu contributed to this report.

Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of

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How Wildfire Smoke Exposure Affects Your Health

Smoke from a fire can have a dangerous impact on your physical and mental health, even from thousands of miles away.

Firefighters continue battling Palisades fire as flames rage across Los Angeles, California, United States on January 09, 2025. (Photo by Official Flickr Account of CAL FIRE / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)Wildfire seasons are becoming more and more devastating and damaging for everyone.Wildfires aren’t just dangerous for the people and wildlife living directly around the flames, but also for those nearby who are exposed to heavy smoke. And because smoke can travel long distances, even people thousands of miles away from the fires can feel their effects. Scientists are actively learning about the harms linked to wildfire smoke, but early findings suggest that wildfire smoke can have a seriously detrimental effect on our short and long-term health. Why breathing in wildfire smoke is harmfulWildfire smoke contains a mixture of gases, liquids and solid particles. What concerns scientists the most about wildfire smoke is the fine particulate matter (called PM 2.5), or small pieces of liquid and gas that can stay suspended in the air. The smallest particles are the ones that can get deepest into the lungs and cause annoying symptoms — like a cough or shortness of breath — in the short term and more concerning health problems down the road, explained Colleen Reid, an environmental epidemiologist and health geographer with the University of Colorado Boulder.According to Reid, no level of PM 2.5 is considered safe — but at higher levels, the health effects are clearly worse.“A study from Montana found that seasons with record-high smoke were followed by more severe flu seasons, adding to the growing body of evidence that wildfire smoke can make people more susceptible to viruses and infections.”How wildfire smoke immediately affects usThese tiny particles can get deep into our lungs and enter the bloodstream, at which point they can travel to other organs and cause widespread inflammation, Reid explained. One report found that teens living near wildfires have higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood. Wildfire smoke can cause sore throats, a cough, watery eyes, congestion, headaches and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Smoke particles can also reach the brain and trigger cognitive issues. According to Rosana Aguilera Becker, an environmental health scientist with the University of California, San Diego, people who have asthma, respiratory illnesses or COPD are most at risk and have higher rates of hospital admissions due to smoke during wildfires. In areas close to wildfires, researchers have found a spike in inhaler refills among people who have asthma. Increases in visits to the emergency room for cardiovascular events and heart attacks have also been recorded in communities experiencing wildfires. What we know about the long-term health effectsThe effects don’t go away once the smoke clears. A study from Montana found that seasons with record-high smoke were followed by more severe flu seasons, adding to the growing body of evidence that wildfire smoke can make people more susceptible to viruses and infections. The long-term health consequences linked to wildfire smoke exposure are understudied, largely because this hasn’t been a big issue until recently. In the past, there would be a wildfire, smoke would shoot into the sky for a short period of time, then the clogged air would clear out. It wasn’t until the past few fire seasons that the air quality has been really bad over really large geographic areas for really long periods of time, Reid said.But there are some clues. Wildfire smoke is thought to be a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. And through her research, Reid has found that when pregnant people are exposed to wildfire smoke, there’s a greater risk of the baby being born early or at low birth weight. A study conducted on monkeys found that primates exposed to wildfires as infants had worse pulmonary functioning and immune functioning later on in life. This brings up the question of “what happens to children when they’re exposed to wildfire smoke when they’re still developing,” Becker said. Evidence looking at the long-term health effects of other types of air pollution suggests that harmful air can impact our respiratory health, cardiovascular health and neurological health. One study found that kids who grew up in areas with polluted air, like Los Angeles, go on to experience worse lung function as adults.“We could assume, based on what we know, that there are similar things with wildfire smoke,” Reid said, noting that we really need more research on wildfire smoke specifically. Allen J. Schaben via Getty ImagesPeople can experience the effects of wildfire smoke even from thousands of miles away.Does proximity to the wildfire matter?Scientists know the most about smoke exposure in communities that are close to wildfires. But what happens when that air travels thousands of miles, as it did this summer when the jet stream brought Oregon’s wildfire smoke to the East Coast? According to Reid, there can definitely be health consequences in these places, too. In the past, air pollution that traveled long distances was minuscule, but the fires in Oregon and Canada showed us that wildfire smoke can travel far and at really high concentrations. This is an area scientists will need to look into in the coming years. There may be differences in how fresh smoke and older smoke affects our health — but, again, no level of PM 2.5 is safe. Our behaviors also play a role. When a fire erupts in the West, people are aware of the fire and know to stay in. You can smell it and you can see plumes of smoke spilling into the air. On the East Coast, where there are no plumes or traces of a campfire scent, some people may not take the necessary steps to protect themselves from inhaling bad air, Reid said. Here’s how to protect yourself from wildfire smokeYou can gauge the quality of the air around you by checking your local air quality index (AQI). Reid recommends the app Smoke Sense, which provides an air quality map and recommendations for what you should or shouldn’t do. Air NOW is another tool that sends local alerts about AQIs. If PM 2.5 levels are high, the best thing to do is stay inside and limit your outdoor activities, Becker said. It’s OK for most people to exercise at lower PM 2.5 levels, as the benefits of exercise are thought to outweigh the risks. We Need Your SupportOther news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.If you can afford an air purifier — they can be pricey! — get one with a HEPA filter. Keep your doors and windows closed. Older homes and rental properties tend to be leakier and allow more air pollution in. You can also purchase a MERV-13 filter and put it in a box fan or your AC unit. Make sure you’re regularly cleaning your car filters as they can collect a lot of particles over time. (You can find a list of filtering products certified by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America here.)If you do venture outside when the PM 2.5 levels are high, bring a mask. N95 masks are the gold standard because they filter all of the air that you breathe in. Though surgical masks are less effective, they’re ultimately better than having no barrier between you and the harmful particles in wildfire smoke.

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Access to Green Space May Help Reduce Kids' Screen Time

By Denise Maher HealthDay ReporterSATURDAY, Jan. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Want to help your child cut back on their screen time?Make sure you...

By Denise Maher HealthDay ReporterSATURDAY, Jan. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Want to help your child cut back on their screen time?Make sure you live near parks and other open spaces where they can frolic outside.New research underlines the importance of green space access as an alternative to spending time on screens, described as watching television, playing video games, and non-school related computer use.“Neighborhood green spaces may draw children out of the house and give them an alternative space to engage in activities other than screen time," according to Ian-Marshall Lang, lead study author and researcher at University of Michigan's (U-M) School of Kinesiology.Published last year in the journal Health & Place, the study was inspired by earlier findings on the differences in the effectiveness of community programming and policies by race and ethnicity. National research shows racial and ethnic inequities in green space availability, so Lang and the other authors suspected access to green space was a key factor behind the trend.While programs aimed at reducing time spent on screens are more likely to be successful in green, park-filled areas, the reverse holds. Programs are less successful in neighborhoods where children have less access to green spaces, described by the study authors as areas such as forests, shrubland, open spaces and grassland.“This raises the question of who has access to high green space. Both our study and national data show green space is less common in communities with higher Hispanic and Black populations," Lang stated.All kids in the U.S. spend a lot of time in front of screens, and the amount of time increases year after year. About two-thirds of 6–17-year-olds exceed the recommended daily limit of 2 hours, authors noted.Too much time online increases the risk of childhood obesity while sedentary habits established early in life can persist into late childhood and adulthood, research shows. This emphasizes the need for childhood interventions to reduce and eliminate excessive screen time trends.What's more, there are significant racial and ethnic differences in who exceeds this limit, with African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino children the most likely to exceed time limits.“These unfair differences in green space access might explain why community programs and policies are less effective in reducing screen time among different racial groups. To address screen time inequities, we need solutions that create fair, just and healthy environments for all communities,” to Lang explained.The U-M study suggests that simply increasing the intensity of community programming may not be a solution.In other words, they've learned what doesn't work to reduce screen time. Short of green space, problems will likely persist. Other features that strengthen programs cannot compensate for the absence of opportunities for outdoor play.In background notes, the authors explained that environmental justice data consistently demonstrates people of color have lower access to greenspace and other urban vegetation.Research shows that in the U.S., greenspace inequities are rooted in decades of systemic racism.“Simply increasing the intensity of screen-time reduction programs may not be effective in environments that do not support behavior change," Lang explained.On the positive side, spending time in nature has been linked to stress relief as well as to better mental health.“This work is particularly important for organizations that have the responsibility and power to make equitable investments in green spaces to support the health of children,” Lang concluded. “Our findings provide evidence-based support for initiatives like the 10-Minute Walk Program that calls on city mayors to address inequities in green space access by ensuring that everyone in U.S. cities has access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of their home.”UC Health offers families ideas and inspiration to get outside and explore nature.SOURCE: University of Michigan, press release, Jan. 6, 2025Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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How Wildfire Smoke Affects Your Health—And How to Protect Yourself

Exposure to smoke is dangerous regardless of your health status—so follow these steps to limit the risk.

As a series of massive fires continues to blaze through the Los Angeles area, blanketing neighborhoods with smoke and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes, air quality remains unhealthy throughout many parts of the county.Wildfire smoke is a mixture of water vapor, gases, and microscopic particles known as particulate matter. The smallest of these particles, known as PM2.5 because they have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, pose the most danger to human health. They can lodge deep in the lungs and sometimes enter the bloodstream. Earlier this week, PM2.5 around Los Angeles rose to “hazardous” levels, the highest warning on the US Air Quality Index.Science NewsletterYour weekly roundup of the best stories on health care, the climate crisis, new scientific discoveries, and more. Delivered on Wednesdays.“Wildfire smoke is risky for everybody, especially when the particulate matter that is being released is in large quantities for long periods, like what is happening in California right now,” says Zachary Rubin, a Chicago-area pediatrician and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.When fine particulate matter is inhaled, it can trigger inflammation in the body. Symptoms can range from the mild, such as burning or itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, and headache, to severe respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and chest pain. It can take anywhere from a few hours to days after exposure for symptoms to appear. In the most serious of cases, it increases the risk of premature death.Children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe side effects. But Rubin says it’s possible for anyone, regardless of their health status, to have respiratory effects from exposure to wildfire smoke.“Any level of air pollution, including from wildfires, can be dangerous for your health,” says Laura Corlin, an environmental epidemiologist at Tufts University School of Medicine. Just how dangerous depends on many factors, including your existing health status, your proximity to the fire, and the duration of exposure. “A good rule of thumb is that more exposure is worse,” she says.The composition of a wildfire can also have an impact on human health. With the California fires engulfing homes and businesses, smoke in the region is likely carrying chemicals released from synthetic building materials that are more toxic than those emitted from burning vegetation.People in Los Angeles County and elsewhere in the US can check airnow.gov to learn more about the current air quality in their area. As air quality can change quickly during the day, you should monitor readings regularly if there is a fire burning in your area, and try to limit your exposure to outdoor air when the quality is poor. The Watch Duty app is a good resource for checking if there are fires burning close to where you are.How to Protect Yourself and Others“The lungs purify the air that we breathe in and sends it to the heart, and the heart pumps it to the rest of the body,” says Shazia Jamil, a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at the Scripps Clinic and University of California, San Diego. Jamil helped develop a guide for the American Thoracic Society on how to stay healthy during wildfires.She says if someone is short of breath, wheezing, or has an elevated respiratory rate from inhaling smoke, that makes the heart beat faster and can exacerbate preexisting heart problems. Even healthy people can experience chest pain and shortness of breath due to smoke inhalation.

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Explainer-What Are the Health Risks From Wildfire Smoke?

By Nancy Lapid(Reuters) - Multiple massive wildfires are raging in Los Angeles, blanketing the surrounding regions under a pungent haze caused by...

(Reuters) - Multiple massive wildfires are raging in Los Angeles, blanketing the surrounding regions under a pungent haze caused by smoke carrying noxious gases and particulate matter that pose serious health risks.Here is what you need to know about the risks of the smoke that is likely to linger not only in southern California but in other regions around the world where wildfires are burning:WHAT IS CONTAINED IN WILDFIRE SMOKE?More toxic than normal air pollution, wildfire smoke can linger in the air for weeks and travel hundreds of miles.Wildfires can burn not only vegetative materials and trees but also cities, destroying vehicles and buildings and their contents. Along with particles of soil and biological materials, wildfire smoke often contains traces of chemicals, metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.WHAT ARE THE KNOWN HEALTH EFFECTS?In laboratory experiments, a given amount of wildfire smoke causes more inflammation and tissue damage than the same amount of air pollution, according to Kent Pinkerton, co-director of the Center for Health and the Environment at the University of California, Davis.Studies have linked wildfire smoke with higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrests, increases in emergency room visits for respiratory conditions, and weakened immune defenses. A study in Maryland identified a spike in heart and lung illnesses in 2023 that was associated with wildfire smoke originating up to 2,100 miles (3,380 km) away in Canada.Wildfires also have been linked with eye irritation and skin problems.The effects of exposure can persist for years. After Australia's 2014 Hazelwood Coal Mine fire, rates of heart disease remained elevated for two and a half years and respiratory illnesses for five years, researchers have reported.Wildfire exposure in pregnancy has been associated with pregnancy loss, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. A study from California found a link between wildfire exposure and cellular damage in first- and second-trimester placentas.Canadian researchers have reported that people who lived outside of major cities and within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of a wildfire in the past decade had a 4.9% higher risk of lung cancer and a 10% higher risk of brain tumors.Exposure to the 2018 Camp Fire in California was linked to changes in cognition and brain activity six to 12 months later, possibly related to stress and trauma, according to California researchers.Data from California also show an increase in fungal infections in the months following wildfire smoke exposure, likely due to fungal spores in the smoke.Higher exposure to wildfire smoke is also associated with higher odds of developing dementia, according to a study of southern California seniors without dementia at baseline. Even “a few really severe wildfire smoke days,” with the Air Quality Index over 200, could translate into increased risk, said Joan Casey of the University of Washington in Seattle, who led the study.More frequent wildfires likely linked to climate change mean people will be exposed more often and the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure over multiple seasons are not yet clear."Repeated exposure is more likely to cause diseases, but it is hard to make predictions because it is hard to say how many fires people will be exposed to, how long the fires will burn, or what the smoke will contain," said Keith Bein of the Center for Health and Environment at UC Davis.Researchers are also looking into the long-term effects of smoke particles in water supplies, on crops or ingested by livestock; the long-term effects of urban wildfire smoke; the effects of wildfire exposure in utero on children's neurological development and respiratory outcomes; and whether wildfire smoke amplifies the adverse effects of extremely hot weather.Nutrients carried in wildfire smoke may contribute to downwind algal blooms, which has implications for drinking water reservoirs and lake ecology, researchers warn.WHAT CAN HELP MITIGATE THE RISKS?Experts say it is best to limit outdoor activities, especially strenuous sports, and to wear N95 masks when wildfire smoke is present.An online course with instructions for reducing outdoor and indoor exposure to wildfire smoke is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.DO WE REALLY NEED TO WORRY?Doug Brugge, who chairs the Department of Public Health Sciences at UConn School of Medicine, said wildfire smoke can be deadly. "People should... reduce their exposure, especially if they are in a vulnerable population, such as the elderly, young children or people with respiratory diseases."(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

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How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires

The fires in L.A. have caused terrible air quality conditions across the county. Here are ways you can protect yourself, and your children, from the health impacts of wildfire smoke.

You don’t have to live close to a wildfire to be affected by its smoke. With severe winds fanning the fires in and around Pacific Palisades, the Pasadena foothills and Simi Valley, huge swaths of the Southland are contending with dangerous air quality.Wildfire smoke can irritate your eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The soot may contain all kinds of dangerous pollutants, including some that may cause cancer. The tiniest particles in smoke can travel deep into your lungs or even enter your bloodstream.Conditions like these aren’t good for anyone, but they’re particularly bad for people in vulnerable groups, including children, those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, people with heart disease and those who are pregnant.Here’s what you should know to keep yourself safe.Stay indoorsMinimize your exposure to unhealthy air by staying inside and keeping your doors and windows shut.If you have a central heating and air conditioning system, you can keep your indoor air clean by turning it on and keeping it running. Make sure the fresh-air intake is closed so that you’re not drawing in outdoor air.Keep your pets insideThey shouldn’t breathe the unhealthy air either.Check your air filtersClean filters work better than dirty ones, and high-efficiency filters work better than regular ones. The California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District recommend filters with a MERV rating of 13 or higher.You might consider using portable high-efficiency air cleaner in a room where you spend the most time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has information about them here, and CARB has a list of certified cleaning devices here.Don’t pollute your indoor airThat means no burning candles or incense. If your power is out and you need to see in the dark, you’re much better off with a flashlight or headlamp.If you’re cold, bundle up. This is not the time to start a cozy fire in the fireplace. Don’t use a gas stove or wood-fired appliances, since these will make your indoor air quality worse, not better, the AQMD says.The CDC also advises against vacuuming, since it can stir up dust and release fine particles into the air.Take care when cleaning upYou don’t want your skin to come into contact with wildfire ash. That means you should wear long sleeves, pants, gloves, socks and shoes. The AQMD even wants you to wear goggles.If you’re sweeping up ash outdoors, get a hose and mist it with water first. That will keep it from flying up in the air as you move it around. Once the ash is wet, sweep it up gently with a broom or mop. Bag it up in a plastic bag and throw it away.It’s a good idea to wash your vehicles and outdoor toys if they’re covered in ash. Try not to send ashy water into storm drains. Direct the dirty water into ground areas instead, the AQMD advises.Discard spoiled food...If you lost power for a significant length of time, the food in your refrigerator or freezer may be spoiled.Food kept in a fridge should stay safe for up to four hours if you’ve kept the door closed. If you’ve been without power for longer than that, you’ll need to toss all perishable items, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk and cut fruits and vegetables. Anything with “an unusual smell, color, or texture” should be thrown out as well, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention.Refrigerated medicines should be OK unless the power was out for more than a day. Check the label to make sure....even if it was in the freezerYour freezer may be in better shape, especially if it’s well-stocked. Items in a full freezer may be safe for up to 48 hours if it’s been kept shut, and a half-full freezer may be OK for up to 24 hours. (The frozen items help keep each other cold, so the more the better.)If items have remained below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or you can still see ice crystals in them, they may be OK to use or refreeze, according to the federal government’s food safety website. Ice cream and frozen yogurt should be thrown out if the power goes out for any amount of time. Meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, milk and most other dairy products need to go if they were exposed to temperatures above 40 degrees F for two hours or longer. The same goes for frozen meals, casseroles, soups, stews and cakes, pies and pastries with custard or cheese fillings. Fruit and fruit juices that have started to thaw can be refrozen unless they’ve started to get moldy, slimy or smell like yeast. Vegetables and vegetable juices should be discarded if they’ve been above 40 degrees F for six hours or more, even if they look and smell fine.Breakfast items like waffles and bagels can be refrozen, as can breads, rolls, muffins and other baked goods without custard fillings.Consider alternative shelterIf you’ve done everything you can but your eyes are still watering, you can’t stop coughing, or you just don’t feel well, seek alternative shelter where the air quality is better.Hold off on vigorous exerciseDoing anything that would cause you to breathe in more deeply is a bad idea right now. Mask up outdoorsIf you need to be outside for an extended time, be sure to wear a high-quality mask. A surgical mask or cloth mask won’t cut it — health authorities agree that you should reach for an N95 or P-100 respirator with a tight seal.Are young children at greater risk of wildfire smoke?Very young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke because their lungs are still rapidly developing. And because they breathe much faster than adults, they are taking in more toxic particulate matter relative to their tiny bodies, which can trigger inflammation, coughing and wheezing.Any kind of air pollution can be dangerous to young children, but wildfire smoke is about 10 times as toxic for children compared to air pollution from burning fossil fuels, said Dr. Lisa Patel, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford Children’s Health. Young children with preexisting respiratory problems like asthma are at even greater risk.Patel advises parents to keep their young children indoors as much as possible, create a safe room in their home with an air purifier, and try to avoid using gas stoves to avoid polluting the indoor air. Children over the age of 2 should also wear a well-fitting KN95 mask if they will be outdoors for a long period of time. Infants and toddlers younger than that don’t need to mask up because it can be a suffocation risk, Patel said.What are the risks for pregnant people?Pregnant people should also take extra precautions around wildfire smoke, which can cross the placenta and affect a developing fetus. Studies have found that exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Researchers have also linked the toxic chemicals in smoke with maternal health complications including hypertension and preeclampsia. What about other high-risk populations?Certain chronic diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other respiratory conditions can also make you particularly vulnerable to wildfire smoke. People with heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease should take extra care to breathe clean air, the CDC says. The tiny particles in wildfire smoke can aggravate existing health problems, and may make heart attacks or strokes more likely, CARB warns.Get ready for the next emergencyLiving in Southern California means another wildfire is coming sooner or later. To prepare for the bad air, you can:Stock up on disposable respirators, like N95 or P-100s.Have clean filters ready for your A/C system and change them out when things get smoky. Know how to check the air quality where you live and work. The AQMD has an interactive map that’s updated hourly. Just type in an address and it will zoom in on the location. You can also sign up to get air quality alerts by email or on your smartphone.Know where your fire extinguisher is and keep it handy.If you have a heart or lung condition, keep at least five days’ worth of medication on handy.

Health
Chemicals
Government

Suggested Viewing

STOPPING THE NEXT PANDEMIC

Stopping the next pandemic is a new challenge to the most prominent scientists. Their field studies around the world are showing that our health as humans depends on animal and environmental health. Diseases that occur in the remotest places are now our concern. We live in a connected world. We will have to preserve the environment to prevent future pandemics.

Health
Science

In His Own Home

Heavily armed officers of the University of Florida police department in Gainesville, FL, responding to a 911 call from a neighbor who heard screams, break into the campus apartment of Ghanaian graduate student, Kofi Adu-Brempong. Clad in SWAT gear and ready to attack, they see the disabled doctoral student, sitting with a metal table leg in his hand and within a minute of entry, shoot the unarmed man in the face. Adu-Brempong, who because of childhood polio, needed a cane to walk, and had been suffering from mental illness, now has severe facial injuries, and is charged with resisting arrest. He is guarded outside his hospital door, his legs shackled together when going to the bathroom. The officer who shoots Kofi, and who had previously been caught cruising through town throwing eggs at residents of a Black neighborhood, is not suspended or fired. Student protests lead the administration to drop charges but calls for revoking SWAT-like teams on campus go unheard. Kofi’s shooting is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of police brutality against Blacks and a stark reminder of the dangers of increasingly militarized campuses nationwide. In His Own Home came out of outrage by a small group of concerned community members committed to seeing social justice happen on a local level. This documentary is an educational and organizing tool, especially calling for our communities to be safe from violence by racist and over-armed police.

Social Justice
Health
Activism

Allergy Alert: Paranoia in Our Immune System

From peanuts and pollen to cats and dust mites, allergy rates are soaring dramatically all over the globe, with inoffensive substances triggering life-threatening physical responses. Experts are predicting that by 2050, one in two will suffer from an allergy. Why are our immune systems overreacting in this way? To stem the tide of the epidemic, scientists are investigating the interface between genetics, environmental factors and our modern lifestyle, and developing revolutionary new approaches to prevention and treatment.

Science
Crisis
Health

Riding Bikes with the Dutch

Michael Bauch, a Long Beach resident and independent filmmaker, noticed that many of his local errands involved short rides which were less than three miles. In the summer of 2007 he and his family went to Amsterdam, to document the biking and walking culture that is so natural to the Dutch people. The film suggests that we in the U.S. re-examine our view of bicycles.

Transportation
Culture
Health

Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields

Combat veterans from the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan find a new mission and personal healing with new careers as organic farmers and ranchers.

Health
Agriculture
Government

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