Bushfires have significantly degraded the climate and landscape of Australia. People often believe bushfire smoke causes outdoor damage, but the reality is different. It is the silent danger that degrades the quality of indoor air because wildfires release toxic smoke that travels and affects areas some distance away. Most people exposed to bushfire smoke recover from symptoms quickly, but long-term exposure causes significant health damage. Let’s take a look at how bushfire smoke silently degrades the quality of indoor air and poses a negative health impact.
What is a Bushfire?
According to the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, a bushfire is an “unplanned vegetation fire.” Bushfires are a natural occurrence in the Australian climate. While lightning strikes and fuel conditions are common sources of bushfires, El Niño, a climatic pattern, also contributes to their occurrence. Read more about it here.
How Bushfire Smoke Enters Your Home
Do you live near the woods and wonder how the smoke gets in during bushfires, even with closed windows and doors? Even if you tightly seal windows and doors, fine smoke particles can still seep into your rooms through ventilation systems, cracks, and gaps. Wildfire smoke travels through the air and can enter your indoor space, affecting the air quality and posing a risk to you and your loved ones. These particles remain in the air for days, depending on the intensity and level of the bushfires.
The Composition of Bushfires
Bushfire smoke comprises particulate matter and toxic gases. Particulate matter includes solid and liquid particles, and its classifications are based on different sizes.
PM10 particles are 10 microns or less in diameter and contribute to visible smoke haze. Exposure to PM10 can cause eye, throat, and lung irritation.
PM2.5 particles are fine, with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, resulting in several health issues.
While every component found in bushfire smoke poses a negative impact on your health, several health experts have raised concerns about human exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), primarily because of its higher concentration.
A study by the Global Burden of Disease showed that PM2.5 is a significant threat in Australia, representing 1.6 per cent of the entire disease burden in 2017. Several factors affect the intensity of health symptoms, including the duration of exposure, the concentration of particulate matter, the person’s age and medical history.
Other components include the deadly carbon monoxide, acrolein, soot, benzene, and ammonia. The combination of these harmful particles has severe implications for humans, particularly for the elderly and children. Long-term exposure to these pollutants results in serious health conditions, such as asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease.
Health Risks from Bushfire Smoke
The health risks from exposure to bushfire smoke are well-documented. Let’s go through some of them:
Respiratory Illnesses:
Fine particles of PM2.5 can irritate the respiratory system, resulting in wheezing and coughing. They can severely trigger individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis and asthma.
Cardiovascular Diseases:
Bushfire smoke exposure can result in heart attacks and strokes, making those with a history of heart conditions highly susceptible.
Long-term Health Issues:
Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to chronic health impacts, such as an increased risk of cancers, reduced lung function, and respiratory issues.
How to Purify Air in Home from Bushfire Smoke
How can we purify the air in our homes from bushfire smoke? This is the real question. Let’s look at some tips to steer clear of the smoke and limit exposure:
- Stay indoors: Keep all windows and doors shut during intense bushfire periods. In houses with cracks and gaps, use a damp towel or tape to seal them and limit smoke from seeping inside.
- Use your air conditioner wisely: Set it to recirculation mode for better air circulation indoors.
- Monitor air quality: It’s essential to keep track of your surroundings. Install air quality monitoring apps or use devices to detect poor air quality levels.
- Install a HEPA air purifier: A HEPA air purifier efficiently removes toxic smoke particles. For example, Euromate Pure Air has some of the most innovative air-cleaning technologies in Australia. The Panasonic Air-E and Daikin air purifiers have high performance, with more than 95% particle removal efficiency and multiple air exchanges.
- Avoid outdoor activities: During bushfires, limit outdoor exposure and drink plenty of water to keep your throat hydrated.
Protect the Health of Your Loved Ones
The right air purifier is your ally in the battle against natural calamities. Our cutting-edge air purification technology features HEPA filters that capture even the smallest PM2.5 particles. Whether it’s bushfire season or indoor pollution, our air cleaners will help create a cleaner indoor environment. Take action today and protect your loved ones; visit our website or consult with our indoor air quality experts here.
