Navigating Air Quality Concerns: A Guide to Staying Healthy During Wildfires and Beyond

As wildfires increasingly impact communities, understanding air quality and taking proactive measures to protect your health becomes essential. This guide, incorporating insights from UCLA experts, provides comprehensive information on monitoring air quality, mitigating risks, and maintaining respiratory health during and after fire events.

Understanding Air Quality Metrics

Air quality is assessed using various metrics, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) being a primary indicator. AirNow.gov, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, offers a composite AQI based on multiple pollutants, including ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, with the following classifications:

0-50: Good
51-100: Moderate
101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups (e.g., people with asthma)
151-200: Unhealthy
201-300: Very Unhealthy
300+: Hazardous

PurpleAir provides real-time, hyperlocal air quality data based on community sensors, primarily measuring particulate matter. However, it's important to note that PurpleAir may not account for ozone levels. Readings may vary slightly because each platform uses different algorithms to estimate air quality. Checking multiple sources can provide a more comprehensive understanding of current air conditions in your area.

The Significance of PM2.5

Of particular concern during wildfires is PM2.5, which refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These tiny particles can be inhaled deep into the airways and even absorbed into the bloodstream, posing a wider range of health implications than larger particles.

Dr. Michael Jerrett, professor in UCLA Fielding’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, co-director of the UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions, said that because these particles are so small, they can travel deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream, potentially leading to serious problems like heart or lung disease.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Lungs

Monitoring Air Quality

Stay Informed: Regularly check AirNow.gov and PurpleAir for real-time air quality updates in your specific location. UCLA also prioritizes the health and well-being of its students, faculty and staff by closely assessing air quality through a monitoring system on campus. There are five air quality sensors in activation: at Sproul Hall, the Anderson School of Management, the Terasaki Life Sciences Building, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the UCLA-owned Sycamore Court apartments in Westwood Village.

Minimizing Exposure

Limit Outdoor Activities: When air quality is poor, reduce or avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
N95 Masks: When spending extended periods outdoors in areas with poor air quality or recently affected by wildfire, wear an N95 mask to filter out PM2.5 particles. UCLA is providing N95 masks at residence hall front desks and the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center.
Indoor Air Purifiers: Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to remove 99.9% of airborne particles, including those from wildfire smoke. Air purifiers also remove mold, dust and allergens, so they’re helpful for people with asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other chronic lung conditions. Enclosed spaces, such as bedrooms, need their own air purifiers. A single unit can be used in open spaces, such as a kitchen-dining room.
Seal Indoor Spaces: Keep windows and doors closed to prevent polluted air from entering your home, dorm, classrooms and offices when air quality is deemed unhealthy. Also, ensure that chimney flues are closed.
Vehicle Precautions: When driving through areas affected by wildfires, keep car windows rolled up.

Hygiene Practices

Shower and Change Clothes: After being outdoors in poor air quality, shower and change clothes to remove particles that may have settled on your skin, hair, and clothing. Put dirty clothes directly into the washing machine or clothes hamper.
Pet Care: If you've been out with your dog when the air quality is unhealthy or hazardous, wipe down the pooch’s paws and legs with a wet towel. Otherwise, they can spread particles onto carpets and couches. Even if the air quality is good, brush your dog and wipe its paws and belly after a hike to avoid bringing pollen and dust inside. If you are returning to a fire-damaged area and your pet is walking in ashes, be sure to give its paws, legs and belly a thorough wipe-down.

Air Quality and Exercise

Whether it's safe to exercise outdoors without a mask depends on the air quality in your neighborhood at that time. Just because the air looks clean doesn’t mean the air quality is good, so check the numbers. If the air quality is good, you can exercise outside without a mask. But if you’re going to spend a lot of time outdoors when the air quality is poor, then it’s recommended that you wear a mask.

Long-Term Considerations

Health Impacts and Vulnerable Populations

Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, especially for individuals with asthma, COPD, and other chronic lung conditions. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Dr. Miriam Marlier, assistant professor in the UCLA Fielding School’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences and a co-author of both studies, said that wildfires can degrade air quality in downwind communities.

Living in Fire-Prone Areas

For people with asthma or chronic lung conditions living in areas prone to wildfires, it’s crucial to take extra precautions. During periods of poor air quality, it's advisable to stay indoors with windows and flues closed and air purifiers running. Avoid outdoor exercise and wear an N95 mask if you must be outside.

The Future of Air Quality

Scientists are unsure how long it will take for air quality to improve in areas affected by wildfire. It’s hard to say, because when we have destruction on such a massive scale, when so many houses are affected and we have all these toxic particles in the air, it’s hard to know how quickly that air will be cleaned up. It might even take a year.

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UCLA's Commitment to Air Quality

UCLA prioritizes clean indoor air to support the health of students, faculty and staff with filtration systems. Many campus buildings are equipped with advanced HVAC filtration systems that use filters to remove pollutants. These systems are regularly maintained to maximize air quality indoors. Most residence hall rooms with air conditioning do not pull air from outdoors and, instead, recirculate and condition the air within the room. Exceptions are Centennial and Olympic Hall, which pull outside air and contain filters.

Research Insights

Recent studies by UCLA researchers shed light on the impact of wildfires on air quality and public health.

Key Findings

The largest wildfires are responsible for the vast majority of downwind fire-derived PM2.5 concentrations.
Timely and accurate air quality information is crucial for the public to reduce their smoke exposure during wildfire events.

Dr. Claire Schollaert, the study’s lead author and a UCLA Fielding postdoctoral research scientist, said that timely and accurate air quality information is crucial for the public to reduce their smoke exposure during wildfire events. The researchers also conducted a retrospective study of 2018 fires in California. They found that the ten largest fires in the 2018 wildfire season accounted for nearly all fire-derived PM2.5 pollution that was detected, said Marlier, corresponding author for that study.

Staying Informed and Safe

Campus Air Quality Dashboard: Check the Campus Air Quality Dashboard
BruinALERT: Sign up to receive updates through the BruinALERT system and regularly visit the Bruins Safe Online page
Limit Outdoor Activities: Limit outdoor activities during poor air quality days if possible
Keep Windows Closed: Keep windows and doors closed in dorms, classrooms and offices when air quality is deemed unhealthy
Protective Masks: Reduce exposure to poor air quality with a highly protective mask, like an N95 respirator, if outside for long periods

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