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 香蕉视频直播減articulate matter香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� or small particles 香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t can compromise the immune cells in our lungs and if it gets into our circulation 香蕉视频直播hose particulates can stimulate inflammatory responses in the heart and the vasculature in the lungs,香蕉视频直播� said Bowdish, who is also the executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health in Hamilton, Ont.
That香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播� like the ongoing fire in Jasper, Alta. 香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渉ave a number of toxic effects香蕉视频直播� and are harder to filter out.
香蕉视频直播淒uring wildfire season, it香蕉视频直播檚 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,香蕉视频直播� said Bowdish.
香蕉视频直播淥therwise they香蕉视频直播檙e really high risk of being hospitalized for asthma, COPD or these cardiovascular events.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 important for everyone 香蕉视频直播� even those who don香蕉视频直播檛 think they are at high risk 香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 air quality index is a good place to turn, she said.
Chee said that when the air quality index has a rating of 香蕉视频直播渉igh香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渧ery high香蕉视频直播� risk, everyone should stay indoors with the windows closed if they can 香蕉视频直播� as long as they香蕉视频直播檙e able to stay cool enough.
Even if the air quality improves to 香蕉视频直播渕oderate,香蕉视频直播� people at higher risk should still try to stay indoors as much as they can, he said.
Environment Canada recommends that higher-risk people 香蕉视频直播渃onsider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors香蕉视频直播� if they are experiencing symptoms when the air quality risk rating is moderate.
香蕉视频直播淢oderate risk is not no risk,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 important that the appliances have HEPA filters or filters with a rating of MERV 13.
But both Chee and Bowdish recognize that many people 香蕉视频直播� including vulnerable seniors 香蕉视频直播� don香蕉视频直播檛 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香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淧utting in rules about building construction so that all 香蕉视频直播� especially vulnerable people who have to live in rental apartments where they may not be able to 香蕉视频直播� make the changes they need 香蕉视频直播� are in safe buildings with air conditioning and with good air (is essential).香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播� such as COVID-19 or flu 香蕉视频直播� also put people at higher risk when the air quality isn香蕉视频直播檛 good.
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