Key Environmental Health Areas Air Quality The smoke from major wildfires has drawn atten - tion within the last several decades, because of the size and ferocity of wildfires generating the smoke, as well as the reach and extent of the smoke. The impact on sensitive populations and potential harmful contents of the smoke continues to be studied. There are few options to eliminate smoke, especially with larger, more intense wildfires. If there is smoke in the air for any extended period, it will enter buildings and structures, so concerns are for indoor as well as outdoor air. Public health measures involve reducing exposure to the extent possible through engineering controls, advisories, and focus on sensitive populations such as the young, pregnant, elderly, medically vulnerable, or those in low socioeconomic areas where certain controls may not be available. Health Impacts The principal known harmful pollutant in wildfire smoke is small particulate matter (PM), which is suspended in the air and is typically made up of solid particles and liquid droplets. Coarse particles have a diameter less than 10 micrometers and may irritate the throat, eyes, and nose but generally do not penetrate deep into the lungs. Fine particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest risk because they can reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, affecting vital organs. Other pollutants of concern generated by wildfire smoke including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. 25 If a wildfire reaches a populated area or impacts industrial facilities, the smoke could include many other toxic materials. Air pollutants could be gener - ated by plastics, pesticides, or other hazardous materials/waste found in building construction, households, industrial, or retail facilities. Some of the burned locations could also have asbestos-con - taining materials (ACM) or heavy metals. See the
section of this guide on hazardous materials/waste. The impacts are serious and include respiratory problems, especially for people with asthma, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other lung diseases. Other impacts are cardiovascular, especially for individuals with underlying heart disease. Eye and skin irritation are also connected to wildfire smoke. Reduced visibility makes driving dangerous. Public Education Environmental public health professionals will provide health prevention and risk content for pub - lic messaging and recommendations to protect the community (especially sensitive or disadvantaged populations). After the wildfire is contained, recom - mendations might include protections during miti - gation or cleanup and other steps during recovery activities. Environmental and public health departments have also become more involved in supporting efforts to distribute indoor air filtration devices such as por - table air cleaners or do-it-yourself box fan filters. 26 Environmental public health staff may be deployed to impacted areas and need to know how to address their own health and safety concerns. Air Sampling One unique feature of recent wildfires such as the Dixie 27 fire in California and the Bootleg fire in Ore - gon, 28 is the distance and impact smoke has on pop - ulations far away from where the wildfire is located. Coordinate efforts between jurisdictions including air quality agencies and health agencies at the state or federal level. At the very least, know who the air agencies are and their capabilities. For example, air sampling resources might be found in larger juris -
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