Forest fires and pollution are accelerating rapidly every year. With this in mind, it's time to talk about our air quality and how it affects our health. Stay tuned to learn more about what air pollution is, how it can affect us, and some preventive measures to take.

Before we begin lets first understand what air pollution is and how it can affect our air quality.

There are 2 main types of air pollution: Ozone and Particle Pollution.

Ozone: Ozone refers to an invisible gas that is created naturally in our atmosphere when sunlight and oxygen meet. However, this gas has increased due to the burning of fossil fuels from our cars and factories.

Particle Pollution: Particle pollution refers to microparticles found in the air. These microparticles can come from the exhausts in our cars, forest fires, eruptions from volcanoes, airborne chemicals, construction work, demolishing buildings, farming, and more.

Both of these types of air pollutants can cause severe health issues for everyone. Some people can be at higher risk than others. People more at risk include children, older adults, pregnant individuals, people with asthma/chronic diseases, people living near pollution sites, and people who work outside.

Symptoms of air pollution exposure may include fatigue, coughing, wheezing, frequent severe asthma attacks, burning in the chest, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and more. Severe effects include inflammation in the airways, which can reduce the function of our lungs and damage them. Continuous exposure can then lead to asthma, emergency visits to the hospital, respiratory infections, or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

There are some ways to protect ourselves from air pollution. Here are some preventive methods.

1. Check The Air Quality In Your Area

Before leaving your home, it is advisable to check the air quality for the day. This can be done by looking at newspapers, the radio, and weather channels. The AirNow.gov website is also helpful in seeing the air quality in one's own ZIP code.

2. Avoid Strenuous Activity When Air Quality Is Bad

When the air quality is bad, it's advisable to move exercises indoors. If there is a need to leave the home during bad air conditions, it's best to wear an N95 mask to prevent breathing in any bad particles. Even if the air quality is good, it's best not to exercise in areas that produce a lot of pollution, such as near highways and factories.

3. Protecting Indoor Air Quality

It's important to keep our indoor air quality healthy as well. This can be done by keeping windows closed, using air conditioners in recirculation mode, and using air purifiers.

Helpful Resources:

Particle Pollution and Respiratory Effects - EPA

Protect Yourself from Poor Air Quality - NCOA

Who is Most Affected by Outdoor Air Pollution? - ALA

Sources:

AirNow.gov. (2025b). In AirNow.gov. https://www.airnow.gov/?

Air quality index | American Lung Association. (2023). In www.lung.org. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/air-quality-index

Air quality and health. (2023a). In www.hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/air-quality-and-health

American Lung Association. (2020). 10 Tips to protect yourself from Unhealthy air | American Lung Association. In www.lung.org. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/10-tips-to-protect-yourself

American Lung Association. (2024). Who is most affected by Outdoor air pollution? In American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk

Protecting yourself from Poor air quality. (2020c, October 26). Ncoa.Org. https://www.ncoa.org/article/protecting-yourself-from-poor-air-quality/

US EPA. (2024). Particle pollution and respiratory effects. In www.epa.gov. https://www.epa.gov/pmcourse/particle-pollution-and-respiratory-effects

Weinstock, C. P. (2019). Rising air pollution may be hurting your health. In AARP. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/air-pollution-effects/

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