Coast-to-Coast Wildfire Pollution Hinders Activities

You don’t have to live near the wildfires in the West to be affected by smoke this summer. The Associated Press reports smoke from wildfires in the western United States and Canada is covering much of the continent, as far away as the East Coast. Weather experts say this phenomenon has become more common as climate change results in bigger and more intense blazes.

More than 60 large wildfires are now burning out of control across 4,100 square miles in the U.S., including Oregon’s Bootleg fire which grew to 624 square miles by last week. In Canada, more than 200 fires are burning across 4,800 square miles in Manitoba and Ontario.

As a result, air pollution from wildfire smoke reached unhealthy levels last week from Washington state all the way to Washington, D.C. Wildfire smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds and is linked to long-term health problems, including decreased lung function and weakened immune systems. The number of unhealthy air days recorded nationwide in 2021 is more than double compared to the last two years.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers the following tips for outdoor workers in areas with heavy smoke or poor air quality due to wildfire pollution:

• Frequently monitor air quality conditions in the area by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) US Fire and Smoke Map or the state health department’s air quality website.
• Relocate or reschedule work tasks to smoke-free or less smoky areas or times of the day.
• Reduce levels of physical activity when possible, especially strenuous and heavy work.
• Require and encourage workers to take frequent breaks in places that are free from smoke.
• Limit your workers’ smoke exposure by making accommodations for them to perform their duties indoors or in a location that reduces exposure to smoke, if possible.
• Have workers wear a NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), like an N95 respirator, to reduce exposure to airborne particulates from wildfire smoke when the recommendations listed above cannot be implemented and it is feasible to obtain respirators. It is important to understand that FFRs do not protect against gases, such as carbon monoxide.