Wildfire smoke and health: all your questions answered

Throughout January 2025, a series of destructive wildfires raged through Los Angeles, devastating people's homes and lives. Twenty-nine people are known to have died and tens of thousands were displaced. Brave firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blazes, which produced severe wildfire smoke.

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Air quality crisis -

Wildfire smoke can travel and affect the air quality far beyond the fire. With its plumes of smoke, the wildfires drastically reduced air quality and created severe health risks.

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Spread of flames - Homes, schools, and buildings were destroyed by the rapidly moving fires.

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Composition of smoke -

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and potentially lead to severe issues.

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Toxic materials -

Wildfire smoke can be extremely dangerous as it can include other hazardous chemicals produced from burning common household items. Examples can include plastics, electronics, and aerosols.

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Systemic Risk -

Once the wildfire particles enter the bloodstream, they can impact every organ in the body. What's worse is that these harmful particles aren't only found outside—some indoor air can be affected by air pollution too.

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Immediate respiratory effects -

Breathing wildfire smoke can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.

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Irritation symptoms -

If you are exposed to wildfire smoke, it can lead to burning or stinging sensation eyes and a scratchy throat. Additional issues can be difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

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Heart and stroke risks -

In severe cases, wildfire smoke is linked to heart attacks and stroke as well as lung cancer and cognitive function damage. There is a growing body of research that links wildfire smoke to longer-term neurological effects like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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Indoor exposure -

Indoor air quality can also be impacted by particulates infiltrating homes and buildings.

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Vulnerable populations -

Children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk if they breathe in or are subjected to wildfire smoke.

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Pre-existing health risks - Chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions can be aggravated by smoke exposure.

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Pregnancy concerns -

There are several concerns for pregnant people exposed to wildfire smoke. In fact, there is growing evidence that links wildfire smoke with negative health outcomes such as gestational diabetes and low birth rates.

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Recovery timeline -

Recovery timelines can vary from person to person and depend on what, if any, pre-existing health conditions they might have. For healthy individuals, recovery can be quicker, but for those with underlying conditions, it may take longer.

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Prolonged effects -

Symptoms like inflammation or flare-ups in chronic conditions can last weeks or even longer.

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Chronic illness risk -

Breathing in wildfire smoke can cause flare-ups for those with chronic lung conditions. This could lead to asthma attacks and increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

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Cognitive impact -

In more severe cases, exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to heart attacks and stroke, as well as lung cancer and cognitive function damage.

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Global health impact -

PM2.5 is extremely deadly and associated with premature death. The World Health Organization said that "indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with seven million premature deaths annually."

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Increased frequency -

Climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe wildfires. It's essential that we do our part to fight climate change through voting and personal habits.

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Air quality standards -

Improving air quality measures must take place at a government level. Improved standards as well as planning and response measures should be discussed and prioritized.

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Tips to stay safe: stay indoors - Keep doors and windows closed to minimize exposure to outdoor smoke. It also could be helpful to wear a mask, even when inside your home.

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Air purifiers - Using air purifiers or HVAC systems with high-quality filters can help to improve indoor air quality.

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Mask use -

If you need to go outside be sure to wear a N95 or KN95 mask to protect against fine particles. Try to avoid leaving your home while the fires and smoke are present if you can.

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Evacuation -

If there is an evacuation order and you can follow it, definitely do so. You need to be as far away from flames and exposure to smoke as possible.

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Medication readiness -

If you know you have pre-existing health conditions, be sure you have all medications on hand in case you have a reaction to the wildfire smoke.

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Car safety -

If you need to drive, whether that's to evacuate or otherwise, be sure your car is recirculating the air instead of bringing outside air in.

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Track AQI -

The Air Quality Index is a measure of outdoor air pollution and can help you determine if the air is safe or not. It'si important to check the AQI to know the possible effects for the general public.

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No safe exposure level -

Wildfire smoke is almost 10 times as toxic as regular air pollution from burning fossil fuels and thus there is no safe level of exposure.

Sources: (Times) (The Washington Post) (Stanford University)

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Wildfires in Los Angeles -

Getty Images

1 / 29 Fotos

Air quality crisis -

Wildfire smoke can travel and affect the air quality far beyond the fire. With its plumes of smoke, the wildfires drastically reduced air quality and created severe health risks.

Getty Images

2 / 29 Fotos

Spread of flames - Homes, schools, and buildings were destroyed by the rapidly moving fires.

Getty Images

3 / 29 Fotos

Composition of smoke -

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and potentially lead to severe issues.

Getty Images

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Toxic materials -

Wildfire smoke can be extremely dangerous as it can include other hazardous chemicals produced from burning common household items. Examples can include plastics, electronics, and aerosols.

Getty Images

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Systemic Risk -

Getty Images

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Immediate respiratory effects -

Breathing wildfire smoke can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.

Shutterstock

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Irritation symptoms -

If you are exposed to wildfire smoke, it can lead to burning or stinging sensation eyes and a scratchy throat. Additional issues can be difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

Shutterstock

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Heart and stroke risks -

Shutterstock

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Indoor exposure -

Indoor air quality can also be impacted by particulates infiltrating homes and buildings.

Shutterstock

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Vulnerable populations -

Children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk if they breathe in or are subjected to wildfire smoke.

Shutterstock

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Pre-existing health risks - Chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions can be aggravated by smoke exposure.

Shutterstock

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Pregnancy concerns -

Shutterstock

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Recovery timeline -

Shutterstock

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Prolonged effects -

Symptoms like inflammation or flare-ups in chronic conditions can last weeks or even longer.

Shutterstock

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Chronic illness risk -

Breathing in wildfire smoke can cause flare-ups for those with chronic lung conditions. This could lead to asthma attacks and increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Shutterstock

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Cognitive impact -

In more severe cases, exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to heart attacks and stroke, as well as lung cancer and cognitive function damage.

Shutterstock

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Global health impact -

PM2.5 is extremely deadly and associated with premature death. The World Health Organization said that "indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with seven million premature deaths annually."

Getty Images

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Increased frequency -

Climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe wildfires. It's essential that we do our part to fight climate change through voting and personal habits.

Shutterstock

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Air quality standards -

Improving air quality measures must take place at a government level. Improved standards as well as planning and response measures should be discussed and prioritized.

Shutterstock

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Tips to stay safe: stay indoors - Keep doors and windows closed to minimize exposure to outdoor smoke. It also could be helpful to wear a mask, even when inside your home.

Shutterstock

21 / 29 Fotos

Air purifiers - Using air purifiers or HVAC systems with high-quality filters can help to improve indoor air quality.

Shutterstock

22 / 29 Fotos

Mask use -

If you need to go outside be sure to wear a N95 or KN95 mask to protect against fine particles. Try to avoid leaving your home while the fires and smoke are present if you can.

Shutterstock

23 / 29 Fotos

Evacuation -

If there is an evacuation order and you can follow it, definitely do so. You need to be as far away from flames and exposure to smoke as possible.

Shutterstock

24 / 29 Fotos

Medication readiness -

If you know you have pre-existing health conditions, be sure you have all medications on hand in case you have a reaction to the wildfire smoke.

Shutterstock

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Car safety -

If you need to drive, whether that's to evacuate or otherwise, be sure your car is recirculating the air instead of bringing outside air in.

Shutterstock

26 / 29 Fotos

Track AQI -

The Air Quality Index is a measure of outdoor air pollution and can help you determine if the air is safe or not. It'si important to check the AQI to know the possible effects for the general public.

Shutterstock

27 / 29 Fotos

No safe exposure level -

Wildfire smoke is almost 10 times as toxic as regular air pollution from burning fossil fuels and thus there is no safe level of exposure.

Sources: (Times) (The Washington Post) (Stanford University)

Shutterstock

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Wildfire smoke and health: all your questions answered

What should you do to stay safe?

20/02/25 | StarsInsider

HEALTH Air safety

This year, wildfires in Los Angeles have wreaked havoc, claimed lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed communities. And even though the flames were dangerous, the smoke was even more so, as it posed a severe health crisis.

Wildfire smoke is filled with toxic particles that enter deep into the lungs and bloodstream thereby increasing risks of long-term respiratory and cardiovascular health issues. As wildfires grow more frequent due to climate change, urgent action is needed to protect public health and improve air quality standards.

Curious about how wildfire smoke can impact you? Click through now to learn more.