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Canadian bushfires aren't the only populations at risk from poor air quality currently affecting much of the United States.
Inhaling toxic smoke and ash from fires can weaken the immune system and damage the body, including the lungs and heart, in anyone, regardless of medical condition.
The fine particles called PM2.5 have a diameter 30 times smaller than a human hair and are invisible to the naked eye. Exposure to PM2.5 concentration levels can cause short-term effects such as eye, nose and throat irritation; cough, sneeze; And respiratory problems, as well as long-term effects can worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Fine particles can enter the body through the eyes and lungs. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and pollution can exacerbate existing health conditions like asthma and allergies, environmental health and engineering professor Peter DiCarlo told ABC News.
© Spencer Platt/Getty Images Canadian Bushfires, June 6, 2023 People walk along the Brooklyn Boardwalk as a reddish haze blankets the Manhattan skyline in New York City.The prolonged duration and duration of exposure can lead to pneumonia and impaired lung function that persists long after the fire is extinguished. Studies show a link between poor air quality and cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
MORE: Live Fire Smoke Updates Canada: Air Quality Alerts for 13 StatesSmoke and the fine particles it contains surged south from more than 100 fires in Quebec, creating hazy skies and dangerous conditions that threatened the health of millions across the Northeast, Midwest, and even as far away as Georgia and Alabama . until
PM2.5 particles found in wildfires are 10 times more harmful than similar air pollution from wildfire activity, according to a 2021 study in California.
© Mike Seger / Reuters A man runs along the Hudson River as fog and smoke from the Canadian wildfires rises over the skyline of Manhattan, New York, June 7, 2023, in New York.When air quality is poor, warnings are usually issued for vulnerable groups, including very young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions. However, the air currently contains so many particles that the air quality is considered unhealthy for residents of affected areas.
"High levels of air pollution affect everyone who breathes, but some groups are disproportionately affected," DiCarlo said. "Like kids with growing bodies and developing lungs, you really want to avoid exposure to them — and older people, whose bodies are shrinking."
MORE: Wildfire Smoke Map: Which U.S. cities and states have been affected by wildfires in CanadaAll populations should limit their time outdoors and exercise, even indoors, as even fine particulate matter can be filtered indoors. If it is necessary to go outside, everyone, especially vulnerable populations, should wear a mask, ideally an N95, health experts advise.
"Minimize exercise and any activity that makes it difficult for you to breathe," says DiCarlo. "The more you lift, the more air you naturally pump into your body and you end up smoking."
© Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images A smoke-covered skyline of New York City and the East River rises in front of Brooklyn on June 6, 2023.Residents currently exposed to air quality advisories should use air conditioners or air filters (if equipped) to filter out as many particulate matter as possible, DiCarlo said. Make sure the fresh air intake is closed and the filter is clean to prevent excess smoke from entering.
Health experts say at-risk populations are being advised to evacuate the area to avoid heavy and prolonged smoking.
MORE: New York shrouded in haze by wildfires in CanadaPeople with asthma or other lung conditions should follow their doctor's instructions regarding their medications and treatment schedule. Patients are advised to contact a doctor if symptoms worsen.
Vulnerable socioeconomic environments are also at risk because they often cannot escape smoking, for financial and social reasons, says Kimberly Humphrey, a human health researcher at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Climate Change and the Center for Climate, Health Global Environment. Cheers, ABC News told ABC News.
Climate change and the role of rising temperatures in extending the annual fire season could make wildfire smoke a major public health problem in the near future, said Dr. ABC's Vijaya. Limay, a climate and public health scientist at the National Resources Defense Council. the news
ABC News' Mary Kekatos and Sonny Salzman contributed to this report.