Why urban wildfire smoke can be especially dangerous to your health

We know wildfire smoke can create cancer-causing airborne particles and possibly an increased risk of dementia. But urban wildfires, like the ones ripping through Los Angeles County, might be even more hazardous.

“Just about anything you might imagine is going to be inside that smoke,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.

With an urban wildfire, “you’re burning everything – plastics and metals. You’re unearthing certain metals that are even in the soil. Cars and electronics and carpets and drapes – all of that gets into the atmosphere,” he said.

“These volatile organic compounds – benzene and formaldehyde and toluene – all these types of things are in the air, and people are breathing them in.”

Symptoms of illness from an urban wildfire might start with burning eyes and a scratchy throat. “But eventually, people may develop breathing difficulties and even chest pain,” Gupta said.

“That’s because of the toxicity of the smoke. But it’s also really small particle sizes as well, something known as ‘particulate matter 2.5,’” he said. “What that means is basically particles as small as 1/20th the width of a human hair.

“You breathe that in, that goes into your bronchioles, it goes into your lungs, it gets into your bloodstream and can eventually affect just about every organ in the body. So that’s why there’s so much concern there that can cause this systemic inflammation.”

It’s not just residents in the immediate area of the wildfires who need to take precautions.

“These toxins in the smoke can travel. They can get miles into the air, and they can travel miles with all the wind,” Gupta said. “So even if you’re not directly in the path of the smoke or the fires, you need to be careful here.”

For anyone at risk of urban wildfire smoke, Gupta suggests:

– Staying inside as much as possible

– If you must go outside, wearing an N95 mask

– Checking the filters on your HVAC system and using indoor air cleaners

– When driving, turning on the recirculation button on your car to avoid bringing outside air in.

“It’s a dangerous situation,” Gupta said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of toxins in the air. But there are also ways to try and protect yourself.”