Now, folks across North America are feeling the effects of wildfires hundreds of miles away: hazy conditions and air quality alerts have descended on the Midwest and reached as far as the East Coast. It may be the first time your local weather has suffered as a result of fires on the other side of the continent—but it won’t be the last. That’s why it’s crucial that you understand when to worry about wildfire haze, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. “Small particles in the air can travel hundreds of miles,” says Dr. Zab Mosenifar, medical director for the Women’s Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “While the immediate danger is within a 25-mile radius of a fire—depending on the winds—particles travel and float in the air for up to two weeks after the fire is out.” These ultrafine particles of burnt organic matter are too small to see with the naked eye, but can still cause hazy conditions and lower the air quality far from the fire itself. To check the air quality in your area, enter your zip code, city, or state into the search bar on the front page of AirNow. This data-focused site is a partnership involving numerous federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies, and uses sensors around the country to provide information about the cleanliness of your local air.
General smog advice
If you’re not used to seeing your air quality index (AQI) reach into the unhealthy orange, red, purple, or maroon alert levels, these conditions can feel alarming. And as the AQI ticks higher, members of vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and people with asthma and other respiratory conditions may want to stay inside. But for most low-risk people, your outdoor air will be safe to breathe in moderation. “For the vast majority of people… it’s more annoying than life-threatening,” says Dr. Clayton Cowl, a pulmonologist and preventive medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Simply walking outside and doing what we normally do, for the average person probably isn’t going to be a big deal.” This means that if you aren’t a member of a high-risk group, you don’t need to postpone going to the grocery store, walking your dog, and other day-to-day activities at the slightest sign of smog. The human body has a natural filtration system that protects our lungs from dust and debris every day. “We all have a little bit of nose hair, and there’s mucus in the upper airway that dust sticks to like a fly would to flypaper,” says Cowl. “The problem with the very small particles is that they can bypass those normal mechanisms and you tend to inhale those particular particles deeper into the lungs.” The key, therefore, is avoiding strenuous outdoor activities and using a few common-sense tips to keep your exposure to particles low. This is especially important for members of vulnerable groups.
What to do when air quality worsens
Complete necessary chores and activities as normal.Make sure your home and car windows stay closed, and use a recirculating air system if you have one. This will help keep airborne particles away from your breathing space.Keep your pets indoors when possible. “Animals, especially dogs, can have an even stronger reaction to smoky air than humans,” Mosenifar says.Continue to use medication, including your inhaler, as recommended by your doctor.Monitor local air quality by paying attention to local alerts and nationwide statistics.
What not to do when the air quality is bad
Don’t contribute to poor air quality by burning candles, cooking over campfires, or incinerating lawn waste inside or outside of your home. In Cowl’s words, “every little bit does count.”Avoid riding your bike to work or doing any strenuous outdoor exercise while your local air quality is in the “moderate” category or worse.Don’t rely on a face mask to filter ultrafine particles out of the air. Most cloth and paper masks, even those that fit well, are not designed to protect you from wildfire smoke.Resist dropping big money on an expensive air filtration system. Smoky conditions will improve with a little time, wind, and precipitation. Don’t ignore the leading causes of wildfires: human actions and a warming climate. Look into how you can help fight these trends by practicing fire safety and working to combat the climate crisis.
