The fires of the last few days may have caused many material disasters, but we must not forget how aggravating it is for health us. Their impacts can be great with the contamination of the air and the water can be a great risk to all of us.
Researchers at the Harvard Th Chan Public Health School give answers to the most common questions about the fires and the risk of our health.
How fires affect air quality
The fires produce a complex mixture of atmospheric pollutants, including fine particles, referred to as PM2.5. They are small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, that is about 20-30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Since these particles are so small, inhaled easily, fact which may cause a multitude of negative impact on health. These can range from cough and throat and nose irritation to deterioration of asthma symptoms, deterioration of cardiac and pulmonary function, heart attacks and even premature death, especially among people with underlying health problems. One study assessed the chronic impact on health from exposure to various air pollutants indoors and found that PM2.5 is the greatest weight, making them particularly important for our protection.
Although particles exist anyway in the environment, in the normal air we breathe, the high toxicity of tobacco from the fires is due to a combination of higher compositions in the air during and after the fires, as well as differences in the chemical composition of the particles formed. Different materials that burn lead to different types of particles, which can also cause different health damage.
Exposure to particles in the air is a risk to everyone.
Who should we wear a mask and when
Experts advise all who are close to the burning areas to wear a mask. They recommend wearing a mask when you are outdoors, for at least a month after the fire. It is very important to wear a mask if you see or smell smoke in the air and the mask should be at least N95 type (or KN95). Surgical masks or fabric masks used during Covid do not protect against the thin particles contained in the tobacco from the fires.
For those who are at greater risk of unwanted effects (including people with underlying respiratory and cardiovascular disease, children, infants, pregnant women and people over 65), it is recommended to use a mask at a distance of up to 160 kilometers from the fire.
One way to think about the exhibition is the exhibition over time within walking distance of the fire area: so, the more time you spend and the closer you are to the fire area, the more important it is to wear a mask. To limit the exposure, it is best to limit the time you spend outside, especially when you do intense physical activity.
How far from fires should we worry about the impact on health and air quality?
– If I live between two fire zones, does that mean I am safe or at greater risk?
– If I were out of town when the fires broke out, is it safe to get back to my house if it is only 1.5 kilometers from the fire area?
– How far from the fire zone is considered safe?
– How far can the infected air travel?
Many of these questions are difficult to answer because there is still great uncertainty. Even people who are 80-160 kilometers away from the affected area may have a negative impact on their health.
In general, experts recommend using the 3 questions that follow as a guide to specify the precautionary level you need to receive:
Did you see her? If you were seeing or still seeing, smoke or ash, you should take additional precautionary measures.
Can you smell it? If you still smell tobacco or ash or “smell of fire”, this is probably due to the emission of gases from chemicals that have been absorbed by materials at home or in your school. If you can smell it, you should take additional precautionary measures.
Can you feel it? If you are not sure, experts recommend buying a portable air quality sensor. Look for one that measures the suspended PM2.5 particles and the TVOC floating gases. The measurements will not be perfect, but they will give you an idea of how your space is affected or not.
Regardless, however, from your distance from the combustion zone, pay attention to the symptoms of tobacco exposure, such as dizziness, cough, chest pain. These symptoms may occur even 5 days after exposure. If you show these symptoms, visit a doctor immediately.
Is the ash toxic?
The ash can be toxic. Complex chemical reactions from burning objects such as colors, furniture, building materials, cars, electronics and others can make ash toxic ash. Many objects in the houses are made of oil and various complex materials that can be extremely dangerous when burned. People who are involved in the removal of ash may face increased risks to their health from the inhalation of possible toxins. Scientists are still trying to understand the effects of these chemical changes on human health.
Residents should not attempt to remove or clean the dangerous residues of the fire on their own. The residues of the houses after the fire are dangerous because they may contain toxic materials such as asbestos, lead, mercury, household chemicals and other heavy metals, which are released into the ash and remains when the constructions are burned. These materials are at risk for health if you inhale or handle them in the wrong way.
If you enter a property where there is a visible ash to examine the damage or objects you need to take, it is important Wear a mask, gloves and be as careful as possible. Experts recommend wearing a high quality respiratory device (ie mask), specifically P100+multi-gas mask. These can be purchased online in local iron stores.
How does smoke affect fires from young children – especially during pregnancy – and what can communities do to protect children both during and after a fire?
Although smoke from fires affects us all, is particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women. During pregnancy, exposure to tobacco from fires can cause an inflammatory reaction of the body, which can lead to problems such as pregnancy hypertension, preeclampsia, low birth weight and premature birth. Early childbirth is associated with poor health later in life, including cognitive dysfunction, reduced development and chronic health problems.
Young children are also at risk of negative effects on their health during and after periods of fires. Children have a higher breathing rate and more active systems than adults, making them more prone to inhalation of high levels of harmful particles during the game outdoors. Young children have increased rates of visit to asthma’s emergencies after exposure and higher rates of infections of the upper respiratory system, pneumonia and bronchitis.
To protect children during and after and after it, children should wear N95 masks or, if they are too young to wear a mask, they should be exposed to the outside air as little as possible. Children should also be exposed to fresh air areas. Schools, kindergartens, businesses and other spaces where children spend time must have fresh air shelters and well -sealed windows, while central air conditioning systems must be equipped with MERV13 or higher filters. Filters in portable units should be replaced after a fire, as they can become less effective.
How can you reduce toxins entering the house from pets?
After walks in the countryside, wipe your pet legs and hair with a damp cloth. Also consider swimming your pets more often if they often go out. Also, continue wiping the areas of the house where the dust can easily enter the countryside (eg inputs) and use a vacuum cleaner with an airtight HEPA filter. Some vacuum cleaners collect soot and dirt and trap large particles, but then redirect the smaller particles back into the air.
Which household items should be replaced?
This depends largely on the place where your home is located and how close it was in the fire and tobacco/ash.
How do you clean the surfaces in your home?
Residents should not try to remove or clean themselves with dangerous residues from the fire. Fire residues are dangerous, as they may contain toxic materials such as asbestos, lead, mercury, household chemicals and other heavy metals, which are released into ash and residues when building burns.
If your home was not in a fire zone, but worry about the tobacco/ash inside your home, take into account the following tips.
Different types of surfaces must be cleaned in a different way.
When cleaning, always wear dishwasher gloves, long -sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid ash irritation. Experts recommend wearing a high quality mask, specifically P100+multi-gas mask. These can be purchased online in local iron stores.
Also wear protective glasses, not vision glasses, so that it does not get ashes into your eyes. To clean the ash, try to wipe it gently and then mop with a wet mop, trying not to get up in the air. You can use HEPA filter vacuum cleaners, but do not try to use ordinary vacuum cleaner. The ash can be thrown into normal trash, but be sure to put it in a plastic rubbish bag first so that it does not scatter.