As of August 27, 2024, 54 large active wildfires across the US have burned over two million acres of land. These fires pose a significant threat, not just to those directly in their path, but also to the people and animals thousands of miles away breathing in the smoke from these fires.
Impact on human health & wildlife
Wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous, as it contains fine and coarse particulate matter, which can penetrate deep in the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating conditions such as asthma, COPD, and heart diseases. This smoke also contains hazardous volatile organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene, which are known human carcinogens. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions, are especially at risk. Beyond immediate health impacts, such as asthma exacerbations, strokes, and heart attacks, exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to long-term health issues, including reduced cognitive function, lung capacity, and weakened immune systems.
Wildfires also affect wildlife. Like us, animals inhaling toxic smoke can suffer from lung damage and other respiratory issues. Even birds, which might seem safe in the sky, are highly susceptible to air pollution due to their unique respiratory systems. Recent studies indicate that a substantial number of animals, from snakes to elk, have died not from the flames but from smoke inhalation and gas poisoning.
Ecological and environmental consequences
Smoke from wildfires affects ecosystems in many ways. It reduces sunlight, impacting photosynthesis in plants and algae, crucial to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In bodies of water, smoke can reduce light penetration, hampering the growth of photosynthetic organisms and potentially degrading water quality, which affects fish and other aquatic life.
What is causing this?
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires can be attributed to climate change, earlier snow melts, and prolonged dry seasons, which create ideal conditions for more severe and longer-burning fires. These factors have led to a rise in “megafires”— large-scale blazes that are challenging to control and have significant impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health.
Understanding air quality where you are
Wildfire smoke poses a significant threat to human health, so it is important to reduce you and your family’s exposure. Understanding air quality where you live, work, and recreate can empower you to make informed decisions about your daily activities when smoke levels are high. One challenge is that regulatory monitors are expensive, which means that their numbers are limited. Regions with low population density, like much of the Midwest and Western US, typically lack regulatory air-quality monitors. Cost-effective air quality sensors can help fill in these geographic gaps. Investing in air quality monitoring gives you accurate, real-time information to safeguard the health of you and your loved ones, whether they’re furry, scaly, or anything in between.
What do we do about it?
Effective strategies for reducing smoke exposure include staying inside (ensuring that your indoor air quality is good with high-quality HVAC filters and/or stand-alone air filters), limiting exertion outside during smoke events, and considering wearing an N95 (or similar) mask while outside.
Over the long term, mitigating wildfire risks could include taking climate actions and encouraging responsible land management. By advocating for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural habitats, and promote sustainable practices, we can try to lessen the impact of these damaging fires and work towards less smoke-filled summer skies.
A recent study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate cooling systems for maintaining indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events. While direct evaporative coolers (ECs) offer substantial energy savings and may be a sustainable alternative to air conditioning (AC) in hot, dry climates, they allow significantly more outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to infiltrate homes compared to ACs. During a wildfire smoke event, homes with ECs had nearly no protection against PM2.5 infiltration, whereas homes with ACs provided substantial protection. This suggests that further research is needed to improve cooling pad designs for both cooling efficiency and particle filtration.
