How to Protect Your Lungs During Wildfire Season, According to Camfil Air Quality Experts

9 minutes to read

2020 and 2021 experienced some of the most severe wildfires in the nation’s history and some experts predict that 2022 may be even worse.

Wildfires are usually at their peak in June through August. This year, the combination of labor shortages and extreme drought conditions in Oregon is likely to produce especially tough conditions (1). Across the United States, more than 1.3 million acres of woodland have already burned in 2022 (2). Colorado scientists have identified new carbon monoxide-related health issues as a result of wildfire smoke from last August (3). Since last year’s wildfire season, new evidence has shown that exposure to pollutants from wildfire smoke increases the likelihood of contracting and experiencing severe complications, including death from COVID-19 (4).

In this article, air quality experts from Camfil give advice on staying safe from the health risks associated with wildfire smoke this summer.

What Pollutants Are Found in Wildfire Smoke?

Because wildfires involve the combustion — both complete and incomplete — of organic and other substances, wildfire smoke contains a range of pollutants.

Pollutants in the air are broadly divided into two categories: gaseous pollutants and particulate matter.

The gaseous pollutants in wildfire smoke may vary depending on what was burned, but the most common gaseous pollutants found in wildfires include:

• ozone
• sulfur dioxide
• nitrogen oxides
• carbon monoxide
• carbon dioxide
• volatile organics...

Read Full Story: https://cleanair.camfil.us/2022/07/26/how-to-protect-your-lungs-during-wildfire-season-according-to-camfil-air-quality-experts/

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