Over the past several years, during summertime, wildfire smoke from Canada and western states has drifted over Wisconsin, causing poor air quality and very notable orange, hazy skies.
It’s possible that we’ll experience this again here in southwest Wisconsin this year, and there are steps you can take to stay well when the air quality is poor. First of all, though, it’s important to understand what causes poor air quality and to note that wildfire smoke is not the only culprit of poor air quality. Air pollution that causes poor air quality can come from human activities, like vehicle emissions, and from natural sources, like wildfires. Air pollution is a mixture of small pieces of solids and liquids in the air, things like ash, vehicle exhaust, and soil dust. These particles can be many different sizes, but the very small, very fine particles are the most harmful to health. Particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter are called PM2.5, these particles are so small that when they’re breathed in, they get trapped in the body and are not sneezed or coughed out like larger particles.
Breathing in wildfire smoke can lead to a wide variety of health issues, including coughing, trouble breathing, scratchy throat, shortness of breath, stinging eyes, chest pain, headaches, asthma attacks, fatigue, and others. Anyone can experience negative side effects from wildfire smoke. People with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or other lung or heart diseases are at a greater risk of experiencing negative impacts from wildfire smoke. Additionally, children, older adults, people who are pregnant, and people who work outside are at a higher risk for health issues from air pollution.
When wildfire smoke is present, there are several steps you can take to help keep yourself and your loved ones feeling your best and avoid the smoke. You should keep windows and doors closed, run your air conditioning unit on recirculate with a new, high-efficiency filter, and you can use an indoor air filter or create a DIY temporary air filter (check out the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website for instructions). It’s also a good idea to cancel or postpone outdoor events and activities or move them inside.
If you need to go outside when wildfire smoke is present, check the air quality conditions where you are before you leave the house and throughout the day. You can visit AirNow.gov or use the AirNow mobile app to check air quality conditions. Try to limit your time outside, and consider wearing an N-95 mask to filter out the tiny particles in the air if you do need to be outside. Visit the the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website for more detailed information on outdoor workers safety during a wildfire smoke event: https://www.osha.gov/wildfires.
To learn more about air quality, air quality data, and how to protect yourself, you can visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/AirQuality. To learn more about the health impacts of wildfire smoke, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/climate/air.htm. This summer and fall, Green County Public Health will update the community about air quality conditions and recommendations on our Facebook page.
Finally, whether you’re in Wisconsin or you’re on summer vacation in another state, remember that you can help prevent wildfires. You should never play with matches or lighters, keep sparks away from dry vegetation, be sure your campfire is completely out before leaving it, and check weather conditions before setting off fireworks or burning debris.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@
greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
