These Tips Can Help You Stay Healthy As Wildfire Smoke and Dust Cover Parts of the U.S.

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This week, dual air quality threats are converging on the East Coast, exposing millions of Americans to unhealthy air. As plumes of smoke drift south from Canadian wildfires, dust from the Sahara desert is blowing across the Atlantic to Florida, pushing particulate matter concentrations to dangerous highs and prompting local health officials to urge residents to stay indoors.

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No amount of particulate matter is safe to breathe. As air quality alerts become more common, health experts warn that even short-term exposure to fine particulate matter can trigger asthma attacks, worsen heart conditions, and increase the risk of adverse health effects in vulnerable populations overall. These tips constitute a compendium of proven strategies that can reduce your exposure to unhealthy air and lower your health risk.

Tips and associated health statistics are based on reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Air Resources Board, and peer-reviewed scientific literature.

8. Use air purifiers

• Statistic: Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters can reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations by up to 80%.

7. Wear a mask outdoors

• Statistic: A well-fitted N95 respirator mask can filter out 95% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

6. Limit outdoor activity during peak ozone hours

• Statistic: Ozone and particulate matter levels are typically highest from 2 PM to 6 PM, especially on hot, sunny days.

5. Use recirculated air while driving

• Statistic: Switching your car’s ventilation system to recirculation can reduce in-cabin PM2.5 levels by 20% to 34%.

4. Stay hydrated

• Statistic: Mild dehydration can impair respiratory mucosal defense and increase vulnerability to pollutants.

3. Eat antioxidant-rich foods

• Statistic: Diets high in antioxidants have been shown to reduce airway inflammation in polluted environments.

2. Monitor daily AQI to stay aware of risk

• Statistic: A 10-unit increase in PM2.5 AQI corresponds to a 1.2% rise in respiratory ER visits.

1. Take extra precautions for at-risk groups

• Statistic: Children breathe in 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults, increasing their exposure to pollutants.

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