With wildfire season on the horizon,millions of acres across U.S. could go up in smoke, threatening health for those who love outdoors. Montana's fire season hasn't flared up yet in early July,but experts say air quality's likely to worsen as summer heats up .
Carrie Nyssen from the American Lung Association warns that wildfire smoke is filled with nasty stuff like carbon monoxide and carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde. A University of Montana study found that people near Seeley Lake had lingering lung damage two years after heavy smoke of 2017.
Kids are especially at risk because they breathe faster than adults,which can mess with lung development. Older folks with lung and heart issues also face bigger dangers as smoke can make their conditions worse. Nyssen stresses taking steps to avoid breathing in the toxic air.
Strategies for Protection
Experts suggest ways to lessen wildfire smoke's impact . First, keep an eye on air quality. Montana Department of Environmental Quality offers regular updates Nyssen advises checking it before heading outdoors, saying, "If you get the day off and you want to go fishing, now are you going to let a little wildfire smoke bother you?"
For those staying inside during smoky periods,a homemade air filter can clean the air in a specific room. Byron, an environmental advocate,recommends using a box fan with an air conditioning filter. It's cheap, can be set up in small room without many windows or doors, and running it nonstop can create a smoke-free space.
Wearing a mask, particularly an N95 respirator,is another key step. These masks filter out harmful PM2.5 particles,which are tiny and can reach deep into the lungs, causing issues like COPD, asthma attacks, heart attacks,and strokes. Byron points out that the U.S. Forest Service's recent guidelines have led some wildland firefighters to start using N95 masks .
But Nyssen warns that while N95 masks provide great protection,they can make it tough to do outdoor activities. "It doesn’t help if you pass out from heat stroke because you can’t breathe through the mask," she says. Both experts agree that planning and being aware of air quality are crucial to reducing wildfire smoke risks .
As summer continues,Montanans should stay alert and take steps to protect their health. With air quality likely to dip,knowing how to deal with wildfire smoke is key to enjoying the outdoors safely.
