Wildfire Safety: Here's What to Know on Smoke and Face Masks

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Sep 15, 2020 03:33 AM EDT

Record-breaking sizes of wildfires are ravaging the country's west coast region, particularly the states of California, Washington, and Oregon.

It resulted in apparent heavy smokes and orange skies in the West Coast. A government agency-run organization, AirNow, said that many regions are currently experiencing "very unhealthy" or "hazardous" air quality.

Public health officials and doctors said that breathing in wildfire smoke can have adverse effects to your health.

Wildfire smoke is a combination of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, parts of buildings, and other materials.

Inhaling wildfire smoke can cause the following health issues, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These include coughing, trouble breathing normally, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Wildfire smoke can also cause headaches, asthma attack, tiredness, and fast heartbeat. Experts also say that prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can eventually inflame your lungs, which can possibly lead to thickening or scarring.

Raymond Casciari, M.D., a pulmonologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, noted that the airways first line of defense is the mucus membranes of your nose and throat.

"As air comes into your body, it impacts those mucous membranes first, and they can filter out a lot of impurities," Casciari said in a report.

The doctor also said that once wildfire smoke gets past your nose and throat, it hits your voice box and it can become hoarse, inflamed, and irritated.

"Your lungs can handle a certain amount of this, but if they're overwhelmed by these particles you can get an inflammatory-type reaction and ultimately a fibrosis," he added.

Certain people are at great risk from wildfire smoke. These are children under 18 years old, adults aged 65 or older, and pregnant women.

People with preexisting conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, and asthma are also at risk. Outdoor workers and those who have limited access to healthcare are also in danger from wildfire smoke.

Can Face Masks Protect You?

The CDC says an N95 masks will offer some protection when work properly. N95 masks filter out up to 95 percent of airborne particles, which include microscopic ones in wildfire smoke.

These particles are known to travel deeply into the lungs. However, due to the current pandemic there might be a shortage in supply of N95 masks. In addition, healthcare workers use N95 masks while treating patients.

Casciari said that unfortunately, there is no completely safe mask unless you go to a self-contained respirator, which some firefighters are using.

Casciari suggested that people could try a KN95 mask, which is China's version of N95. However, reports said this mask do not meet the same standards as an N95.

Jonathan Parsons, M.D., a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, agreed with Casciari's suggestion.

"There are some very subtle differences, but essentially they are equivalent in terms of protection from smoke exposure," Parson said in a report.

The CDC warned the public that cloth face masks offer little protection against wildfire smoke and they do not filter small and harmful particles in smoke.