FOREST FIRES- EXPOSURE TO SMOKE, FUMES, GASES

FOREST FIRES- EXPOSURE TO SMOKE, FUMES, GASES - Health Effects Of Smoke Exposure

Health Effects Of Smoke Exposure [air purifier, air cleaner, air scrubber, air filtration models recommended]

Immediate effects of short-term exposure to forest fire smoke include:

• Sore eyes
• Tearing of eyes
• Cough
• Runny nose

Other symptoms often experienced from smoke exposure in combination with physical exhaustion, psychological stress, and poor nutrition include:

• Cold symptoms
• Persistent cough
• Sore throat

Signs of high blood levels of carbon monoxide (CO) include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Decreased mental function

Intermediate effects exposure to forest fire smoke (from days to weeks) include:

• Lung or airway congestion
• Persistent cough

Smoke exposure in combination with physical exhaustion, psychological stress, and poor nutrition can lead to:
Acute bronchitis

Prolonged exposure. It is very unlikely that you will ever experience this from forest fire smoke and little is known about its effects. The risks are probably the same for cigarette smoking, and include heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema (COPD), and cancer.

Note: The mixture of particles, liquids, and gaseous compounds found in smoke from wild land fires is very complex, and include compounds that can irritate and even injure the tissues of your mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. During past fires in Florida, an increase in emergency department visits was seen for asthma, acute worsening of chronic bronchitis, eye irritation, chest pains, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

(MMWR, 48[04]; February 5, 1999, pages 78-79)

Allerair air purifiers air cleaners air filtration systems recommended:
| 4000 VOCARB | 5000 VOCARB | 6000 VOCARB | VOC Odor Control | I6500 Series for larger areas, hospitals, gymnasiums, etc. |