Yes and no- experts still aren’t entirely certain.
Last year’s wildfires in California and Canada’s British Columbia, among other locations, were both dangerous and memorable. Air quality was affected in many areas, taking a toll on human health. Emissions from forest fires have been shown to travel large distances, and so even if you live a ways away, you could still be in the line of fire when it comes to your lungs, so to speak, (no pun intended).
Is it worse for allergy sufferers?
The jury’s still out on this one. According to Dr. Christopher Carlsten, head of the University of British Columbia’s Respiratory Medicine Division in an interview with The Weather Network, scientists aren’t yet sure exactly how air tainted by smoke from burning wood reacts with your respiratory system if you’re suffering from seasonal allergies.
Related: BBQ Safety: Food Poisoning in Pre-Cut Melon
Some research has been done on allergy sufferers and traffic pollution. Traffic exhaust contains minute air particles that are taken deep into your lungs as you breathe. If you suffer from seasonal allergies you could already have trouble breathing, and so this is a toxic combination.
Forest fires however, pollute in a different way, Carlsten says. The particles in smokey air are much bigger, and can tend to be caught by your respiratory system and filtered out before they get to your lungs. Because of this, we can’t jump to conclusions and say that since traffic smog is worse for allergy sufferers, so is wildfire smoke.
Of course, any kind of polluted air is something you want to avoid. It’s always a good idea to get inside when the air quality drops. Treat your seasonal allergies and talk to your doctor for the path that’s best for you.
For more on wildfires and health, click here.
