Dr. Mirus on health issues from wildfire smoke
Dr. IV Mirus: The recent wildfires in Canada have caused some significant health issues for some people. It has to do with smoke and air quality.
To better explain this, we need to discuss the Air Quality Index (AQI). It goes from 0 to over 400. 0-50 is "green" and healthy level air. 50-100 is yellow, which is okay. 100 to 150 is orange. If it goes up, it means it’s worse. In recent years, we've seen an increase in wildfires worldwide, which has led to more instances of poor air quality. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2023 alone, we've had a 15% increase in days where the AQI exceeded 100, indicating unhealthy air conditions.
Wildfire smoke, packed with a mix of gases and fine particles from burning trees and plants, can have severe impacts on our lungs and heart.
Particularly at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or heart disease. For these groups, poor air quality can lead to an increase in health complications.
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But there's a way to protect ourselves. Let's look at three key actions.
Firstly, when the AQI is over 100, limit your time outdoors. This action alone can reduce your exposure to harmful particles by 60%.
Next, keep windows and doors shut. Don’t leave them open. Use a portable air cleaner indoors to filter out smoke particles, improving indoor air quality by up to 80%.
Lastly, if you must be outside, consider wearing an N95 mask or a P100 respirator, which can filter out up to 95% of airborne particles. That’s why it’s called a N95.
Keep an eye out for the air quality index by checking on your devices or the internet. Protect yourselves and practice good strategies to keep yourself healthy when disasters like these occur. The more we know and understand, the better ability we have to protect ourselves and stay healthy.