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California wildfires: How bad is the smoke for your health? Know ways to keep yourself safe
Fires burning across Los Angeles have spewed plumes of black smoke into the air, posing a major health threat, even as fast-moving flames engulfed homes, schools and other buildings Has also been burnt. According to experts, the pollutants released from smoke are dangerous for your breathing and heart in the long run. Wildfire smoke also irritates your eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and soot can contain all kinds of dangerous pollutants, including some that can cause cancer. Read on to learn some ways to protect your health.
Exposure to pollutants can have serious effects on your breathing and lungs.
Thousands of people in Los Angeles are evacuating the city as the Palisades wildfire rages across key California neighborhoods, spewing dangerous smoke and ash.
According to health officials, wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of pollutants and can cause anything from minor health problems to serious problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Doctors say something special Smoke irritates the respiratory systemDue to which your body’s ability to function is affected even among healthy people.
Even in the short term, exposure to pollutants can have serious effects on your breathing and lungs.
LA’s air is “dangerous”
according to AirNowAccording to a government-run site on air quality data, the air in Los Angeles is “hazardous.” A day earlier, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health had issued a smoking advisory, stating that “due to smoke from the burning of the Palisades wildfire Unhealthy air quality in Los Angeles County,
“The primary health concern is small particles, which can cause eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, headache and illness (i.e. bronchitis),” the advisory said. According to experts, poor air quality is extremely dangerous for small children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Advice for people suffering from respiratory problems
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Unified School District, they Chronic health and respiratory conditions Should not go to school or work.
Doctors say the particles in the smoke irritate the bronchi — tiny tubes that lead to your lungs and connect to the alveoli — the sacs that allow you to breathe. According to experts, you don’t need to be directly affected by a wildfire to experience health effects, you just need to avoid going outside.
Pollution from wildfire smoke can travel up to 14 miles into the air.
Ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
Experts suggest that if you are living in an area with poor air quality, you should stay indoors and reduce activity levels. And if that’s not possible, there are some precautions you can take, including:
- Wear an N95 mask to limit exposure
- Use a portable air cleaner to reduce indoor air pollution.
- If you have filters on your home HVAC system, make sure they are up to date and of high quality.
- Run the air conditioning in your home and car on the recirculation setting to keep outside air from coming in.
- Don’t contribute to indoor air pollution by burning candles or using gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces or aerosol sprays.
- Do not fry or boil meat
- Stop smoking tobacco products or vacuum
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Smoke irritates the respiratory system
Unhealthy air quality in Los Angeles County
Chronic health and respiratory conditions
smoke irritates the bronchi
Wear an N95 mask to limit exposure
Stop smoking tobacco products
