Itinerant smoke from the wildfires in Canada created an orange-colored smog that further enveloped New York City … [+]
Talk about the hazy shadow of spring. Smoke from raging wildfires in Central Canada over the past six weeks has been moving south. That caused a haze over much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US on Wednesday. It also casts quite a bit of shadow on these areas, figuratively speaking, resulting in poor air quality advisories affecting some 110 million people. can be careful, as all the toxins and particles in the smoke from wildfires can carry some particularly concerning health risks, as will be explained later.
For an example of what this smoke from the wildfires in Quebec, Canada has done so far, take a look at what happened in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday. Or maybe you haven’t seen what’s going on because it’s been so damn hazy outside. On Wednesday, many parts of NYC took on an orange hue, as the following EarthCam imagery showed:
While an orange hue can be fine on a pumpkin, Cheez-Its, or certain people’s faces, in this case it’s because of the sunlight reflected from all the particles floating in the air. Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine tweeted a chart showing how the amount P.M2.5 going up and down since Tuesday:
P.M2.5 stands for particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These are considered “fine inhalable particles” because they are small enough to enter the smallest airways of your lungs. And the fact that so little particulate matter ends up in your lungs is not exactly a good thing. As you can see from Levin’s tweet, the sky in NYC was hovering in the “Very Unhealthy” range on Wednesday afternoon.
In fact, the wildfire smoke has propelled NYC to the top of the worst air quality list in the world for now, which isn’t easy as there’s quite a bit of competition for that title. Health officials have urged people in NYC to limit their outdoor activities today and possibly for the next few days until the smoke clears. This has led New York City schools to cancel all of their outdoor activities on Wednesday. The smoke has also resulted in poor visibility, prompting the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) to effectively say on Wednesday, “slow down too quickly” for air traffic to and from Newark and LaGuardia airports.
And look at this. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced that the state will distribute N95 face masks Thursday morning:
You remember N95 face masks, right? It’s those things that not only block respiratory viruses, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also the particles that get into your nose and mouth, as I described for Forbes on September 20, 2020. And while you may want a smoking body, it’s not good to have smoke on or in your body.
“Smoke is never good in its various forms,” he stressed Daniel Kass, MPSPH, currently the Senior Vice President, Environmental Health at Vital Strategies and the former Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from 2009 to 2016. “Air pollution is responsible for 5 to 7 million deaths each year. While most deaths are due to chronic exposure, air pollution, even in the short term, can pose health risks, especially in vulnerable populations.”
The song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is only partially correct. The gases and particulate matter can certainly irritate your eyes. Avoiding smoke, wearing goggles, or wearing a Darth Vader suit can help prevent this irritation. Artificial tears and cold compresses can help relieve irritation. But smoke can also enter and affect other parts of your body.
Orange became the new color in New York City on June 7, 2023. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty … [+]
A major concern is what smoke can do to your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Inhaling such particles can irritate your airways, leading to coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. This can be especially problematic for those who already have underlying respiratory problems, such as asthma or emphysema. It may be the thing that makes you transition to life-threatening respiratory distress.
Such particles can also cause cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. According to Kass, “New York City has an annual average of about 8 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter. At the moment that is more than 140 micrograms per cubic meter.” He went on to say, “Studies have shown that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase there is a one to two percent increase in cardiovascular hospitalizations and deaths.” He added: “There will likely be more strokes, heart attacks and hospitalizations this week. That’s the concern.”
And take a wild guess as to what kind of people are likely to experience a higher share of hospitalizations and deaths? Surprise, surprise, it is the people who are already socially and economically disadvantaged. “I worry about who is vulnerable,” Kass explained. “The poor will suffer the most. For example, many who are poor will not be able to afford good air filtration equipment.”
Even if you come through this “smoke screen” from the wildfires seemingly unscathed, there can be longer term effects. Smoke inhalation can add up over time. In addition to exacerbating chronic diseases in people who already have a diagnosis such as asthma, emphysema, coronary artery disease or heart failure, there are concerns that exposure to smoke over time could lead to the development of various health problems, such as lung problems, cardiovascular problems and cancer . . The exact degrees of risk are not yet fully understood, as few people would agree to a study that involves blowing smoke in their faces every day for years to see what might happen. Therefore, much of the existing data comes from studies in the lab and other animals, as well as studies that compare what happens over time to large groups of people living in different areas with different levels of air pollution. It can be difficult to unravel cause and effect when there are so many other factors involved.
Anyway, smoke is not like intoxication. Even a small amount is not good for you. Therefore, it is best to minimize your exposure to wildfire smoke as much as possible. If the outdoor air quality is poor, try to stay indoors. Keep doors and windows closed. In addition, try to avoid activities that cause you to breathe heavily, such as vigorous physical activity or watching someone eat sushi if you could be breathing smoky air. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisesUsing the air conditioner can help filter the air, but make sure it’s on the right setting or the air conditioner will just pump smoke into your home or apartment.
Air purifiers can help if they are equipped with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters or electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and ionizers. However, be careful. Air cleaner manufacturers can make false claims. Some machines can even pollute the air by generating excess ozone, which is like drying yourself with sheets of Swiss cheese after a shower. To find legitimate air purifiers, you can find recommendations from legitimate government sources such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which runs a certification program and provides a list of certified air purifiers.
People wear masks as they walk around Times Square amid smoke from Canada’s wildfires on June 7, 2023 … [+]
If you must go outside, consider wearing an appropriate mask or respirator. This does not mean just any mask like a bandana or a Batman mask. The mask must form a seal over your face and nose and filter particulate matter properly. An N95 face mask or P100 dust mask would be suitable for this. Make sure it has been tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Don’t be scammed by fake N95 or P100 masks. The product must have the word “NIOSH” on it. If it says NOSH, you may be wearing something other than an approved face mask. If this face mask does not seal your nose and mouth properly, smoke can still creep into your mouth and nose. Since facial hair can prevent a tight seal, consider shaving, especially if you look like Gandalf the Wizard.
Remember that just because you don’t smell anything unusual doesn’t mean there aren’t particles and toxins in the air. Wildfire smoke is not like coffee, a fart or teenage spirit. Wildfire smoke may be odorless. Therefore, whenever there are air quality alerts, take appropriate precautions, even if you can’t seem to see anything in the sky. The term silent but deadly doesn’t just apply to things that come out of your bottom.
The bottom line is that this smoke situation from wildfires poses some real health risks. Current wildfire smoke warnings are likely to lift in a few days to a week, though it can be difficult to predict what will happen as wind patterns and other conditions change over time. But this probably won’t be the last time you have to deal with such problems. On the contrary. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), multiple studies have shown that climate change has already been linked to an increase in the length of the wildfire season, the frequency of wildfires and burned areas. So don’t believe the claims out there that climate change isn’t a problem, especially when they come from companies that want to keep polluting. And polluting and polluting. Any suggestion that climate change is not something that urgently needs to be addressed can only be a smoke screen.
