At least 11 individuals have already died and 37,000 acres have burned in the wildfires that are spreading across Los Angeles. Thousands of buildings have been affected, leading to mass evacuations, hospitalizations for many, as well as uncertainty for what the future holds for the city of Angels.
While many are appropriately concerned about damaged property and land, the short-term and long-term consequences on health can prove devastating from wildfires. Here’s how wildfires can affect the health of those close and far from wildfires.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can affect those who are in close proximity to smoldering fires. When inhaled, it can reduce the amount of oxygen that is present in the blood being delivered to critical organs in the body. When organs like the kidneys and heart do not receive sufficient oxygen, they are at risk of failing, which can ultimately lead to harmful conditions such as kidney injury, heart failure and even heart attacks.
Short-Term Health Effects
Wildfires can affect not just those close to the burning fumes, but also the many more that are exposed to poor air quality from the smoke in the air. Last year, poor air quality from wildfire smoke in Canada spread all the way to New York and many states in northeastern America, posing dangerous threats to health hundreds and thousands of miles away from the actual fire. The same will be true for the fires in LA, which will undoubtedly affect hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans in neighboring states.
The reason for this is because of the deleterious effects of particle pollution, which are tiny particles smaller than the size of a hair follicle that get suspended in the atmosphere when trees, houses and plastic burn. These small particles can act as irritants, particularly when they get deposited in the eyes, nose and mouth. Typical symptoms from particle pollution include redness of the eyes, watery eyes and cough.
In addition, the particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing lung injury resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain and wheezing. These health effects all occur in the short-term for most individuals.
Long-Term Health Effects
Particle pollution can lodge deep into the lungs, and may not be cleared by the body entirely, particularly if exposure to such toxins is sustained for prolonged periods of time. This can lead to detrimental long-term health effects, such as triggering chronic conditions such as asthma as well as obstructive lung disease like bronchitis.
Research also demonstrates that those exposed to wildfire smoke or those affected by particle pollution are more likely to develop chronic conditions like obstructive lung disease or have an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke due to the inflammation of particulate matter in lungs or the bloodstream. Long-term exposure to wildfires can also increase the risk of eventually getting lung cancer, similar to how second-hand smoke remains a risk factor for the development of lung cancer, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Mental Health Effects
Countless Americans have lost their homes due to the blazing fires in LA, including some prominent celebrities like Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton. Imagine the stress, anxiety and even depression that comes with losing a home, which is one’s place of rest, comfort and where lifelong memories are built. For some, the vision of seeing your home go up in flames can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that can last a lifetime resulting in devastating mental health consequences.
Vulnerable Populations
Although everybody’s health can be affected when experiencing wildfires, certain populations are more likely to experience the detrimental health effects of fires. Those include children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions. Children are more susceptible because their lungs are still developing and cannot remove toxins as efficiently as adults with fully developed lungs. In addition, the elderly are more likely to have chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems that makes it more difficult to remove particulate matter from the lungs and bloodstream, thereby amplifying the harmful effects of wildfire smoke.
How To Optimize Health During Wildfires
The most effective way to preserve health during wildfires is to stay indoors, and keep windows and doors shut. This prevents the body from inhaling and interacting with the harmful smoke and debris of fires. In addition, having air humidifiers and purifiers can help circulate good quality air to minimize the risk of poor quality air that is directly breathed into the lungs. Staying indoors is not always feasible for many during wildfires, so it is critical to evacuate when necessary and seek medical attention if you start to cough, wheeze, experience chest pain or develop shortness of breath.
