Some days, it’s hard to miss.  Step outside and take a breath, and you might think you’d just shoved your head up a chimney.  Other days, it’s not so bad… but even when it doesn’t seem bad, it often is.

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This summer, air quality is an issue for all of us—and it’s likely to remain so for the rest of the season.  The primary cause, of course, is wildfires in Canada, hundreds of which are still burning out of control.  As they burn, the smoke is pouring across the continent.  Here in Kentucky, we’re lucky—we may have bad days but they’re nowhere near as bad as, say, Chicago (which currently has the most polluted air in the world).  But that doesn’t mean we should ignore the problem.

 

The problem is particles.  The smoke that frequently spreads its haze over our neighborhood contains large quantities of “fine particulate matter.”  These particles, having a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, can enter the lungs and bloodstream and cause serious health issues.  They are particularly dangerous to anyone with existing heart or respiratory conditions, such as asthma.  Then there is “particulate matter,” particles that are larger than 2.5 micrometers but under 10 micrometers.  These don’t get into the bloodstream, but they do get into the airways, resulting in eye and throat irritation, coughing, difficulty breathing, and aggravated asthma.  Other pollutants that frequently pop up when the air quality is especially bad include ozone and carbon monoxide.

 

There’s nothing we can do about the Canada wildfires (or the new fires cropping up in California and Oregon).  However, we can be “air aware.”  Most cellphone weather apps include air quality information.  I keep a bookmark to the Accuweather site on my computer at https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/danville/40422/air-quality-index/333319.  Check to see whether the day’s air quality is “Fair” (green), “Poor” (yellow), or “Unhealthy” (orange), and plan accordingly.  (Thankfully, we haven’t reached “Very Unhealthy” in this area yet, but within the last two weeks we have hit particle levels of 150 and higher.) If the quality is in the yellow, orange or red, try to limit outdoor activities.  Consider running HEPA air filters indoors.  If you do have to go outside, consider wearing a mask—yep, they’re back in style! 

 

In short, if you step outside and the world smells like smoke and ashes, you’re not imagining it.  When will it end?  Well, all anyone can say is… don’t hold your breath!

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