Such a series As massive fires continued to burn across the Los Angeles area, blanketing neighborhoods with smoke and forcing thousands to evacuate, air quality remained poor in many parts of the county.
Wildfire smoke is one mixture of steam, gas and microscopic particles called particulate matter. The smallest of these particles, called PM2.5 because they are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, 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 the “danger” level, the highest warning level above US Air Quality Index.
“Wildfire smoke is dangerous for everyone, especially when particulate matter is released in large quantities,” said Zachary Rubin, a Chicago-area pediatrician and spokesperson for the American College. over long periods of time, like what's happening in California right now.” in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
When fine particulate matter is inhaled, it can cause inflammation in the body. Symptoms can range from mild, such as burning or itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat and headache, to severe respiratory problems, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue and chest pain. It can take from a few hours to a few days after exposure for symptoms to appear. In the most severe cases, it increases the risk of premature death.
Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung disease or weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious side effects. But Rubin says anyone, regardless of their health status, can experience respiratory effects from exposure to wildfire smoke.
“Any level of air pollution, including from wildfires, can be dangerous for your health,” said Laura Corlin, an environmental epidemiologist at Tufts University School of Medicine. The level of danger depends on many factors, including your current health condition, your distance from the fire, and the length of exposure. “A general rule is that more exposure is worse,” she says.
The composition of wildfires can also affect human health. With the California fires engulfing homes and businesses, smoke in the area is likely to carry chemicals released from synthetic building materials that are more toxic than those released from burning food. object.
People in Los Angeles County and elsewhere in the United States can test airnow.gov to learn more about current air quality in their area. Because air quality can change rapidly throughout the day, you should monitor readings regularly if there is a fire in your area and try to limit exposure to outdoor air when quality is poor. the Guard duty The app is a good resource to check if there are any fires burning near you.
How to protect yourself and others
“The lungs clean the air we breathe and send it to the heart, which pumps it to the heart,” said Shazia Jamil, a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at Scripps Clinic and the University of California, San Francisco. the rest of the body”. Diego. Jamil helped develop one instruct to the American Thoracic Society on how to stay healthy during wildfires.
She said if someone has difficulty breathing, wheezes or has an increased respiratory rate due to smoke inhalation, it causes the heart to beat faster and can worsen pre-existing heart problems. Even healthy people can experience chest pain and shortness of breath from inhaling cigarette smoke.