As wildfires burn in parts of Canada and the wind carries smoke into communities near and far, health experts are advising people to regularly check air quality ratings and take precautions.
Wildfire smoke contains 害羞草研究所減articulate matter害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� or small particles 害羞草研究所� that can be harmful when we breathe it in, Dawn Bowdish, a scientific adviser and board member for the Lung Health Foundation, said in an interview on Friday.
害羞草研究所淚t can compromise the immune cells in our lungs and if it gets into our circulation 害羞草研究所hose particulates can stimulate inflammatory responses in the heart and the vasculature in the lungs,害羞草研究所� said Bowdish, who is also the executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health in Hamilton, Ont.
That害羞草研究所檚 especially dangerous for people with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can also cause cardiovascular problems, she said.
Dr. Alex Chee, a respirologist and clinical associate professor at the University of Calgary, added that people sometimes don害羞草研究所檛 realize that air pollution is associated with heart disease, but said studies have correlated high levels of pollution and smog with more heart attacks.
Wildfires that burn through towns 害羞草研究所� like the ongoing fire in Jasper, Alta. 害羞草研究所� carry extra pollutants because the smoke is contaminated by burning rubber tires, plastic, metals and petrochemicals, Chee said.
Bowdish said wildfire smoke also contains gases called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which 害羞草研究所渉ave a number of toxic effects害羞草研究所� and are harder to filter out.
害羞草研究所淒uring wildfire season, it害羞草研究所檚 really important, especially for people with asthma (or) COPD or heart conditions to pay attention to air quality monitors and air quality results because they need to adjust their behaviours,害羞草研究所� said Bowdish.
害羞草研究所淥therwise they害羞草研究所檙e really high risk of being hospitalized for asthma, COPD or these cardiovascular events.害羞草研究所�
Chee noted that children, seniors and pregnant women are also at higher risk of bad health effects from poor air quality. For those who are pregnant, the pollutants from wildfire smoke can also affect the fetus, he said.
It害羞草研究所檚 important for everyone 害羞草研究所� even those who don害羞草研究所檛 think they are at high risk 害羞草研究所� to protect themselves as much as possible from poor air quality, the experts say, noting that outdoor conditions can change from hour to hour.
It害羞草研究所檚 good for people with chronic conditions to have their own air quality monitors at home to ensure an accurate local reading, Bowdish said. Otherwise, Environment Canada害羞草研究所檚 air quality index is a good place to turn, she said.
Chee said that when the air quality index has a rating of 害羞草研究所渉igh害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渧ery high害羞草研究所� risk, everyone should stay indoors with the windows closed if they can 害羞草研究所� as long as they害羞草研究所檙e able to stay cool enough.
Even if the air quality improves to 害羞草研究所渕oderate,害羞草研究所� people at higher risk should still try to stay indoors as much as they can, he said.
Environment Canada recommends that higher-risk people 害羞草研究所渃onsider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors害羞草研究所� if they are experiencing symptoms when the air quality risk rating is moderate.
害羞草研究所淢oderate risk is not no risk,害羞草研究所� Bowdish emphasized.
Ensuring the air inside the home is as clean as possible through filtration is vital, the experts say.
They recommend air purifiers, air conditioners or turning the furnace on to the fan setting.
In all cases, it害羞草研究所檚 important that the appliances have HEPA filters or filters with a rating of MERV 13.
But both Chee and Bowdish recognize that many people 害羞草研究所� including vulnerable seniors 害羞草研究所� don害羞草研究所檛 have air conditioning, furnaces or air purifiers.
In those cases, they suggest people try to get to air-conditioned spaces such as malls, libraries or cooling centres.
Another option is homemade air filters made of box fans and MERV 13-rated filters, known as a Corsi-Rosenthal box, with instructions available online.
But Bowdish said in the longer term, it害羞草研究所檚 vital for policymakers to change how homes, cottages and other buildings are constructed so that indoor air quality protection and air conditioning is built in, rather than putting all the responsibility for staying safe from worsening air quality and heat on individuals.
害羞草研究所淭he climate is going to change and our summers are going to get hotter and hotter and wildfires are going to be more and more common,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淧utting in rules about building construction so that all 害羞草研究所� especially vulnerable people who have to live in rental apartments where they may not be able to 害羞草研究所� make the changes they need 害羞草研究所� are in safe buildings with air conditioning and with good air (is essential).害羞草研究所�
If people need to go outside when air quality is bad, wearing N-95 masks helps filter out some of the harmful particulate matter in wildfire smoke, Bowdish and Chee said.
The Lung Health Foundation also urges people with respiratory conditions to keep their inhalers close by.
The foundation emphasizes that in addition to chronic respiratory conditions, infectious respiratory illnesses 害羞草研究所� such as COVID-19 or flu 害羞草研究所� also put people at higher risk when the air quality isn害羞草研究所檛 good.
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