As if we needed something else to worry about… Even if you haven’t had to pack up your things and evacuate from L.A.’s unprecedented string of wildfires, there’s an additional, insidious threat we’re all facing: dangerous air quality due to wildfire smoke, which UC research has found is up to 10 times more toxic than regular air pollution. Everyone—including those not in immediate danger from the flames—should take precautions to avoid smoke inhalation, both when outdoors and at home.
As soon as the Palisades Fire started on January 7, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a smoke advisory (currently in effect till today at 5pm) and declared that the air quality in Los Angeles County was unhealthy. And, thanks to those high winds we were dealing with, the wildfire smoke spread much farther than just the sites of the fires themselves.
If you’ve been getting your news from the local broadcast stations, you’ve probably seen maps tracking the area’s air quality, labeled by color and number, on the news. The air quality index (or AQI) is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s way of gauging outdoor air quality and health. The higher the index number climbs, the unhealthier the air. Specifically, anything below 100 is generally considered safe (yellow is fine, green is better). A number from 101–150 (orange) is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151–200 (red) is unhealthy for anyone; 201–300 (purple) is very unhealthy; and, finally, anything 301 or higher (maroon) is hazardous.
The agency takes five factors into account when determining air quality: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (a.k.a. particulate matter, this also includes PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles consisting of microscopic solids or liquid droplets. These are especially hazardous to your health because they can be inhaled deep into your lungs or potentially even your bloodstream, causing long-term effects.
For up-to-date info on the state of the air in your area, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District for an interactive map. Another option is airnow.gov (they also have an app, or you can check via the Weather app on your phone). Enter your address or ZIP code, and get an automatic air quality reading and a breakdown of the pollutants in your area. As I write this, Malibu is at 260, Pacific Palisades at 174, Pasadena at 172, Hollywood at 157 and parts of La Crescenta-Montrose at 198, to give you an idea. Catalina Island is reaching the 370s—so, very hazardous. You can also look at PurpleAir’s crowdsourced map of air quality sensors, which may be stationed mere blocks from you; it’s worth noting, however, that these numbers may differ from official ones during extreme smoke events.
Even in the best of times, L.A.’s air pollution is a problem. According to the American Lung Association, of all metropolitan areas in the country, Los Angeles/Long Beach ranks No. 1 most polluted by ozone, No. 6 by year-round particle pollution and No. 11 by short-term particle pollution (a.k.a. where pollution from wildfire smoke would fall). And believe it or not, that’s actually an improvement compared to the city’s levels in 2000.
So, what can you do to avoid breathing in harmful pollutants from smoke? Here are the Public Health Department’s recommendations:
- First off, check the air quality in your area.
- If you’re in a danger zone, stay indoors if at all possible. (Kids should especially be kept indoors, as their lungs are still developing.)
- When there is smoke outside, keep your doors and windows closed (when air quality improves, you can open them for fresh air to in turn reduce any indoor pollution).
- Make sure your air conditioner’s filter is clean, then run it on the recirculate setting, so it’s not pulling in smoke from outside.
- Avoid indoor activities that will worsen air quality, like smoking, lighting candles or incense, cooking with your gas stove, vacuuming, using aerosol sprays or wearing shoes inside the house, which can spread contaminants.
- Use an air purifier, or make your own with a box fan and an air filter (learn how here).
When you clean, use a damp mop or cloth so you don’t kick up irritants. - If you do have to go outdoors in smoke, limit your exposure time, avoid intense physical activity, and cover up with an N95 mask. Oh, and keep your four-legged friends indoors.
Keep calm, follow these tips, and hopefully we’ll all be breathing easier soon.