Air Quality Awareness Week Day 1: Wildfires and Smoke
From May 1-5, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is helping celebrate National Air Quality Awareness Week 2023! Throughout the week, NDEP is taking steps to inform all Nevadans about how air quality affects their lives. This includes sharing information and resources about air monitoring, impacts to public health, and ways to support air quality science. This is the first blog in this series.
With warmer weather on the way, wildfire season will soon be ramping up. Today, the topic for Air Quality Awareness week is Wildfires and Smoke. The Western U.S. experiences wildfires on a regular basis. In 2020 and 2021, Nevada saw record-breaking destruction, with hundreds of thousands of acres of land burned by wildfires. Even though Nevada saw less wildfires in 2022, the risk remains high this year, and our wet winter will likely encourage more vegetation growth – and more fuel for fires.
Wildfires release vast amounts of smoke into the air, exposing millions of Americans to harmful levels of fine airborne particulates. In just the last few years, there were 9 unhealthy air quality days recorded during the 2022 fire season; and in 2021, there were 35 unhealthy air quality days just between July 16 and September 7.
The primary pollutant in wildfires is fine particulate matter, also called PM2.5. PM2.5 refers to particulate under 2.5 microns in diameter, or about 25 times smaller than the width of a human hair. PM2.5 accounts for approximately 90% of total particle mass emitted from wildfires. Because these particulates are so small, they can penetrate buildings, enter deep into the lungs, pass through skin, and potentially enter the bloodstream. Exposure to wildfire pollutants is linked to numerous health effects, ranging from minor (like eye and/or respiratory tract irritation) to more serious (making asthma and heart problems worse, or even death). Individuals who are under the age of 18, have cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, work outside, are older adults, or are pregnant, are more vulnerable to the health effects of wildfires.
Some tips to stay safe during wildfire smoke events include:
- Speaking with a healthcare professional about what to do during a smoke event – particularly if you or a loved one is more vulnerable to the effects of smoke inhalation.
- Check with an HVAC expert about what type of filter can be used to protect indoor air quality.
- Buy (or make!) a portable air cleaner BEFORE wildfire season picks up. Check with the manufacturer to make sure it has a high efficiency HEPA filter and that it is the correct size for the area where you plan to install it.
- Purchase a supply of N95 respirators and learn how to use them. These are the only type of mask that will effectively protect from PM2.5.
- Create a “clean room” in your home. Select a room with as few doors and windows as possible (and no fireplace) and use a portable air cleaner in that room.
- Stock up on supplies so you don’t have to go out when air quality is poor. This includes medications as well as groceries. Be sure to choose foods that don’t need to be broiled or fried.
You can also stay up to date on conditions by:
- Signing up to receive air quality alerts, warnings, and public service announcements about active fires and pollution events.
- Checking EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map for current information.
- Following the DCNR on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on air quality information.