Wildfire Smoke and IAQ

Smoke from wildfires has become an issue for many parts of the country, and wind can carry smoke far and wide — bringing fine particles and other toxins that pose health hazards to children, the elderly, those with lung conditions and even healthy individuals. Every year, about 7.4 million children across the United States are affected by wildfire smoke, a number that is sure to rise.

As smoke and wildfire seasons intensify, investments in school infrastructure as well as ventilation verification in public buildings are needed to keep everyone safe.

With recommendations to stay inside, how can you make sure your indoor air quality is safe? Taking these steps will help.

Keep windows and doors closed, and wear a mask if you go outside.

Clean and/or change your air filters in your HVAC system. If possible, replace your filters with a higher-grade filter. The minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV rating, measures how effectively contaminants pass through the filter and into the air. The higher the MERV rating, the more filtration possible. Higher ratings can reduce efficiency, so make sure to read the label to find the best fit for your system and situation.

If you purchase an external air cleaner, make sure to buy one with a HEPA filter. Air cleaners are made for different size rooms, so check to make sure you buy one that fits the area you need it clean.

Run the fan in your HVAC system, even if it’s not cooling the air. This will push all air through the filters, making it safer to breathe.

To learn about best practices to reduce kids’ smoke exposure at school or ventilation verification, download the fact sheet provided by Stanford Global Health and other California partners.

ASHRAE has released a document to assist building owners and occupants address the resulting smoke from wildfire events. Click to learn more and download the document.

Smoke exposure has many short-term health impacts, such as difficulty breathing, increased asthma attacks, chest pain, dizziness and increased risk for upper respiratory infections. But researchers have found long-term consequences as well, including reduced immune system function, changes in DNA and increases in blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular and lung diseases later in life.