As Santa Ana winds continue to fuel fears of resurgent wildfires in Los Angeles County, health officials are warning of another wind-borne threat: ash and dust from active fire zones and burn scars.
On Tuesday, the county Department of Public Health issued a windblown dust and ash advisory until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Meanwhile, ash may be scattered from the Palisades and Eaton fire areas, as well as the Hurst, Kenneth, Line, Airport and Bridge burn scars, according to the Fire Quality Management District. south coast air.
“Wind-blown ash particles may be too large to be detected by air quality instruments and will not influence Air Quality Index levels,” the advisory states. “However, ash particles are usually visible to the naked eye, either in the air or on exterior surfaces.”
Experts say wildfire smoke is dangerous for everyone and all area residents should be concerned about the pollutant’s potential health effects.
The cause of concern is that “the main component of smoke is particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, directly causing respiratory problems, but they can also enter the bloodstream where they can cause a range of other health conditions,” said Anne Kelsey Lamb, director of regional asthma management and prevention.
Wildfire smoke can be extremely harmful to the lungs of people at risk, including children whose lungs are still developing, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, of chronic heart disease or diabetes, according to the American. Lung Association.
Exposure to air pollution such as smoke from wildfires can also lead to the onset of asthma in otherwise healthy people, Lamb said.
As wildfires become more frequent, researchers have learned that wildfire smoke, depending on its composition, can be even more dangerous to public health than other types of air pollution.
Last year, UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation published a study in the journal Science Advances that found an estimated total of more than 55,000 premature deaths over an 11-year period from inhaling particulate matter fine particles known as PM2.5, or soot, from forest fires.
Air pollutants from wildfires are dangerous to the immediate fire zone and surrounding communities, but the damage can extend further.
Lamb noted that during the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, researchers found smoke containing lead 150 miles from the fire zone.
“Even people who are not in the immediate vicinity of the fire are likely still experiencing some impacts from the resulting smoke,” she said. “I encourage everyone in the area to take the same precautions that we recommend for someone who is truly in the middle of all of this.”
We know that wildfire smoke can contain toxic materials such as lead, asbestos and arsenic, which can cause additional health harm, Lamb said.
Part of the reason wildfire smoke from the Los Angeles area fires is of particular concern is that, in addition to PM2.5, the smoke from this disaster may include harmful components that were part of homes, objects inside the house, buildings and cars that burned.
Toxic chemicals from plastics, house paint and furniture are some examples of what has been burned and released into the air, said Anthony Wexler, director of the Center for Air Quality Research at UC Davis.
Researchers are still working to understand the relative toxicity of these specific chemical pollutants during a fire.
“We’ve done some experiments, some early experiments in my lab showing that building materials are more toxic than burning woody materials,” Wexler said. “But again, we only have limited data.”
In the face of uncertainty, he said, “people should protect themselves as much as they can.”
Local and regional public health officials recommend at-risk people stay indoors with windows and doors closed, while keeping indoor air clean.
“You’re allowed to be a couch potato, as long as you have electricity so you can watch the tube,” Wexler said.
The more you go outside, the more you expose yourself to harmful air pollutants.
Wexler advises you to break out the protective gear you had for the pandemic: air purifiers, N95 masks, gloves and protective glasses in case you have to go out.
If people must go out, experts recommend wearing an N95 mask.
That’s because they’re really the only masks that will filter harmful fine particles, Lamb said.
“Surgical masks let in too much air because they don’t fit properly,” she said. “It does not filter particles as fine as the N95.”
Researchers studied the possibility of wearing cloth masks during wildfire smoke and found that it “resulted in greater exposure because some of the smoke was deposited in the material and then it was continually inhaled.” , Lamb said.
Many Los Angeles residents are in surrounding communities and volunteer their time to local disaster relief efforts, providing essential services and working.
“We want people to volunteer and help us, because we need it,” Wexler said.
But there are other safety measures bearded men should take, he said.
Bearded men should shave or at least trim facial hair as much as possible so that a protective mask seals the face tightly, preventing pollutants from entering.
Experts also urge everyone to remove clothing worn while working outside, including shoes, before returning home. Put clothes in the wash immediately, because some of the particles they carry can enter the home and affect other people, Lamb said.
One thing to remember, Lamb said, is that pollutant components, including ash, will settle on the ground and can be aerosolized again when disturbed as part of cleanup efforts.
“There may be no way to prevent this from happening, but to avoid exposure, make sure you wear a mask, and I would even wear goggles, gloves and a change of clothes,” a she declared.
As irritating as smoke can be to humans, it can also cause health problems for your pets.
Animals with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases are at particular risk from smoke and should be closely monitored during all periods of poor air quality, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn.
Experts share the following information to keep your beloved pets safe during a poor air quality or unsanitary event:
Regarding the current wind-blown advisory, experts advise you to check for updates from local authorities and follow their safety guidelines.
Although wind-blown ash particles may be too large to be detected by air quality instruments and officials warn it will not influence Air Quality Index levels, you should always keep an eye on the air quality in your area.
When looking at the air quality reading, keep in mind which harmful particles are not being recorded.
You can do this with the following tools:
All resources will provide a number for the Air Quality Index. If it is above 100, it is considered unhealthy for sensitive and at-risk groups. If it is above 150, it is considered unhealthy for everyone.
Here’s a list of where you can pick up free N95 masks.
This list will be updated as more organizations, local agencies and others post their offerings.
David Lynch, the writer and filmmaker whose works include Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, has…
Scientists are unraveling the mystery of what triggers Huntington's disease, a devastating and deadly hereditary…
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies including Ripple's XRP and Ethereum rival Solana have soared since Donald Trump's…
The NFL's top two MVP candidates will meet Sunday when Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens…
CNN — The coldest air of the winter so far will blow into Washington, D.C.,…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “It ends with us” Actor and director Justin Baldoni sued his…