Orange sky from wildfire smoke in San Francisco

Photo by Tegan Miele/Unsplash

Find out what you need to know about the health risks of wildfire smoke and the best ways to keep you and your family or patients informed and safe—whether through use of a smartphone app, limiting outdoor activities, buying an air filtration device, or other means.

As we enter summer, wildfire season is upon us and will extend into the early fall. Wildfires in the United States have increased in frequency and severity over the past several decades. The states with the most wildfires are California, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, and Oklahoma. This year, as the season ramps up, Canada has experienced record-setting wildfires, with smoke causing air quality alerts and evacuations in Canada, the northeastern United States, and Europe.

The health risks of wildfire smoke.

With these fires comes poor air quality, with the main culprit being a pollutant known as particulate matter (PM) 2.5. These tiny particles or droplets in the air are 2.5 microns or less in width and are able to travel deep into the respiratory tract. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. It can also affect heart and lung function, worsening heart disease and asthma, and increasing the risk for heart attack.

While some states out west have experienced wildfires and poor air quality alerts for years, the past few weeks have brought unprecedented poor air—with warnings reaching the highest level of alert—to northeastern states such as New York. During poor air events, nurses may see more patients suffering from respiratory issues in emergency rooms and outpatient clinics and patients may have more questions on what they can do to protect themselves.

A recent AJN article, “Nursing Practice and Particulate Matter Exposure,” contains more detailed information on particulate matter. Get informed by exploring the resources below on minimizing dangerous exposure, including air quality apps to track when it is unsafe to go outdoors and tips on how to stay safe. What’s working for you, and how concerned are you about this growing health risk?

Resources to Limit Exposure to Poor Air Quality

From the CDC

Protecting Yourself from Air Pollution During Physical Activity

CDC Information page on wildfire smoke with links to multiple resources

From the American Lung Association

10 Tips to Protect Yourself from Unhealthy Air

Smartphone Apps and Websites for Exposure Assessment

The American Lung Association’s State of the Air app

The EPA’s AIRNow app

The OpenAQ (“a nonprofit organization providing universal access to air quality data”) website

Patient Education Handouts

The EPA’s “Patient Education Tools—Ozone Pollution and Your Patients’ Health”

Personal Air Quality Monitor Purchasing Information

Monitors evaluated by the EPA