How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Allergies?

Wildfire smoke has a very complex composition. The two major components of wildfire smoke are particle matter and gaseous pollutants. Particle matter is a combination of liquid droplets and solids suspended in polluted air. Due to the particles being so tiny, they can penetrate deep into the lungs, nose tissue, and throat. Gaseous pollutants are several extremely harmful gases in wildfire smoke that are not visible. These include volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. All of these chemicals can have an impact on allergies.

How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Allergies?

Formaldehyde

Inhaling formaldehyde causes eye, nose, and throat irritations. At higher exposure levels, formaldehyde can cause changes in lung function, shortness of breath, skin rashes, and deep wheezing. The vapor of this highly toxic poison is a severe skin and respiratory tract irritant that may cause dizziness or even suffocation.

Benzene

Exposure to benzene vapor can irritate the throat, eyes, and skin. Skin exposed to benzene can result in redness, blisters, and dermatitis.

Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides can cause damage to the respiratory tract resulting in severe respiratory infections and asthma. Chronic lung disease can manifest with long-term exposure.

Carbon Monoxide

When there are vast quantities of airborne carbon monoxide, red blood cells replace oxygen with carbon monoxide. Apart from causing serious tissue damage, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause death.

Health Effects

When the microscopic particles in wildfire smoke enter the lungs, this can trigger an inflammatory response. Damage caused by microscopic particles in the lungs can lead to severe allergies and infections. The effects of wildfire smoke inhalation are more prominent in the elderly, children, and people with respiratory or cardiopulmonary illness, including allergies and asthma. In extreme cases, particle pollutants in the wildfire smoke may cause strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks.

Symptoms of Wildfire Smoke Inhalation

The overlapping of all the symptoms of inhaling smoke from a wildfire makes it difficult to know which you are experiencing. Not to mention, treatments differ depending on the symptoms. Exposure to wildfire smoke can also make you more prone to respiratory infections such as COVID-19.

Exposure to smoke may introduce more burning than itching, which is typically present in allergies. However, some people with severe seasonal allergies can have similar symptoms to viral infections such as COVID-19.

Exposure to air pollutants worsens COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes. Wildfire smoke exposure and COVID-19 can have some of the same symptoms, including difficulty breathing, a dry cough, and a sore throat.

For people with asthma, wildfire smoke can cause an asthma attack. If you have an underlying lung condition such as COPD and asthma, stay indoors with all doors and windows closed. Generally, the symptoms of wildfire inhalation include:

Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Stinging, burning, and watery eyes
Scratchy throat
Runny nose
Irritated sinuses
Wheezing and shortness of breath
Asthma attack
Rapid heartbeat
Fatigue
Headaches and migraines
Chest pains

Short-term Effects

Several types of allergies can be caused due to a reaction to the smoke from burning wood. The symptoms of an allergic reaction are virtually the same as other short-term symptoms of inhaling wildfire smoke. Short-term effects include nose and throat problems, burning and watery eyes, shortness of breath, severe coughing, and extra phlegm which traps air particles before they reach the lungs. Asthma sufferers will experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pains. Firefighters who have repeated exposure to wildfire smoke commonly develop respiratory system allergies.

Dealing with Wildfire Smoke if you have Allergies or Asthma

The smoke from a wildfire can hang around for days. As a result, the best defense against wildfire smoke is to limit exposure to it. Stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter/purifier. Checking the Air Quality Index around in your area to better understand outdoor air quality is a good idea. Even if the fire is far away, pollutants in the air around you may be highly toxic. Limit heavy exertion and exercise as increased breathing causes more pollutants to pass into your lungs. Breathing through the nose is better than through your mouth as it allows pollutants to pass directly into your lungs.

Wearing a fitted respirator mask, (P-100 or N-95), will cut down on the particulate pollutants inhaled substantially. However, know that these types of masks are not effective against gaseous pollutants.

Take the decision to evacuate sooner rather than later.

Helpful reading: Smoke Awareness in Nebraska – Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

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