What are the health effects of wildfires and how can I protect myself?
Fallout from wildfire pollution in southern Europe and America could have an impact for years to come, according to public health specialists.
Transcript
00:00 [Music]
00:09 The issue is increasingly serious.
00:12 We're seeing more of these wildfires.
00:14 We're seeing the wildfire season increasing in length,
00:18 starting earlier, ending later.
00:20 The fires are becoming more intense, more frequent.
00:23 So this is only going in one direction,
00:25 and unfortunately for health,
00:27 both of ourselves and the rest of the living species on this planet,
00:33 it's not a good direction of travel.
00:36 [Music]
00:39 There has been increasing evidence of the impacts of pollution
00:43 on the brain and brain functions.
00:46 And one of the pollutants which you get emerging from major wildfires
00:51 is carbon monoxide.
00:54 And we know that this is a very dangerous pollutant
00:57 at increased concentrations,
00:59 and it is well demonstrated that it can have impacts on cognitive function.
01:06 Often the smoke and the pollution that comes from wildfires
01:10 will be carried quite high above the fire itself,
01:14 and then it will be taken up by the local weather conditions
01:18 and transported elsewhere.
01:20 Depending on the extent of the fire itself,
01:23 the pollutants can be tracked up to hundreds of kilometers away.
01:29 If it is safe to stay where you live or work,
01:33 then the main action one can take is to ensure
01:38 that the emissions from the fires don't penetrate the building you're in.
01:43 So that means keeping, obviously, windows and doors shut,
01:46 but it may even mean trying to seal those windows
01:49 by having wet towels, etc.
01:53 Once those particles are deep in the lung,
01:55 they can cause systemic inflammation,
01:58 which can affect all other systems of the body.
02:01 The lung is right by the heart,
02:03 so there's evidence that air pollution exposure can affect cardiac health.
02:08 Those N95 masks that we got used to for COVID,
02:12 those are very good at protecting you from the air around you.
02:16 The surgical masks are to protect others from what you breathe out,
02:19 but the N95 or the KN95,
02:22 those are to protect you from the air around you.
02:25 So if you have to be outside, wear a mask.
02:29 [Music]
02:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]