Multiple wildfires have been exploding across the Los Angeles area, with the Palisades fire consuming 3,000 acres, the Eaton fire more than 10,000 acres, and the Hurst fire. Santa Ana winds up to 80 mph, and a drought with less than 0.1 inches of rain since May are fueling the explosive fires.
A smoke advisory is in effect for 17 million people in the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Environmental Protection Agency declares hazardous conditions in downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and East L.A. Fortunately the immediate threat will not expand across the country as the Santa Ana winds carry the ash and smoke westwards, out to sea. In contrast, last year’s fires in Canada led to hazardous air pollution spreading to New York City.
Health Effects Of Wildfire Smoke
Most immediate health dangers from the fires are due to fine PM2.5 particulates in the air. In contrast to larger particles, the PM2.5 (2.5 microns in diameter, just a fraction of a human hair) particles are so fine that they can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
Even at a baseline, the American Lung Association warned last year that 131 million people were living with unhealthy air.
Such PM2.5 pollution is linked to asthma attacks, bronchitis, heart attacks, and premature deaths. Pregnant women may be at particular risk. Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a pediatrician and American Lung Association board member said that the women will likely have more trouble breathing with the irritants because of their smaller lung volumes and are at higher risk for premature deliveries.
Because so many homes and vehicles are burning in LA, this fire will likely have even worse health problems. The burning electronics, paint, plastics and metals will release other toxins and trigger inflammation, triggering more asthma and scarring lungs. This free report from National Academies Press, The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface, contains extensive details about these chemicals and their effects.
Besides the acute problems, studies from the Marshall Fire in Colorado showed that chemicals stuck to the walls and continued to off-gas for months after smoke and ash blew into homes. Researchers found “elevated levels of metals and PAHs — polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — in the ash. We also found elevated VOCs — volatile organic compounds — in airborne samples. Some VOCs, such as dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde and PAHs, can be toxic to humans. Benzene is a known carcinogen.” Some of the later risks include cancer and dementia.
Even two years after the Marshall fire, 33% of the people whose homes were affected still had symptoms they attributed to the fire.
Reducing Your Health Risks From Smoke
To remain as safe as possible, we should monitor the air quality through sites like AirNow. Because health risks after fires are ongoing, “Everyone should have air filters in their homes,” El-Hasan says. In addition to having a HEPA filter, he says it should have a “legitimate carbon filter as well to help neutralize and catch some of these other chemicals that can be hurting us.” He emphasizes people should “change and keep up to date the filters for their central air and central heating.”
People going outside should wear an N-95 or N-100 mask. Surgical masks are inadequate because they let in too much unfiltered air around the sides. Since preventing infection is not the goal here, El-Hasan is particularly a fan of the vented N-95s, which are easier to breathe in for people working outside.
Kids too young to wear masks should be kept inside as much as possible. “If your upper airways are irritated, you’re functionally immunocompromised a little bit,” El-Hasan notes. “You’re more susceptible to illness.” He also urges staying up to date on vaccinations and keeping children away from people who are ill. Finally, he cautions, be sure you are not running out of your medications and inhalers.
Los Angeles is one of the cities that has considered implementing a mask ban, along with New York City. Perhaps the current wildfires and hazardous smoke, in addition to the ongoing Covid epidemic, will prompt them to reconsider. The focus in all of this should be on public health and the greater good for the public at large.
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