By MICHELLE TIO
Jan. 23, 2025
Los Angeles is on its 17th day of dealing with unprecedented fires. 28 individuals have died, the massive Eaton and Palisades fires have yet to be fully contained, and the county is still under a local health emergency. If you live in or near Los Angeles, you may be wondering — how might these fires affect my health?
Short-Term Effects
According to the CDC, breathing smoke from wildfires can cause immediate symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, headaches, chest pain, coughing, and asthma attacks. Additionally, the CDC states that children, first responders, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions are at greater risk. However, what people may not know is that fire exposure may lead to long-term health problems.
While scientists are still investigating the long term health effects of wildfires, a University of Colorado study is revealing. Researchers studied the effects of the Marshall Fire, a 2021 fire in Colorado in which 6,080 acres burned, and more than 1,000 structures were destroyed. They collected data regarding the health of individuals who returned to live in the immediate area of the fire zone.
Six months after the fire, more than half of the individuals surveyed reported still experiencing symptoms. The most common symptoms participants reported were itchy or watery eyes (33%), dry cough (27%), sneezing (26%), and a sore throat (23%). Less common symptoms included having a strange taste in the mouth (11%), shortness of breath (8.3%), wheezing (5.7%), difficulty breathing (5%), a skin reaction (4.7%), and nausea or vomiting (2.6%).
One year after the fire, the most common symptoms experienced remained the same, but the incidence decreased. 21% reported having itchy or watery eyes, 20% a dry cough, 18% sneezing, 13% a headache, and 12% a sore throat.
Wildfire Exposure Linked to Serious Health Conditions
Dr. Kari Nadeau, the chair of Harvard’s Department of Environmental Health, states that wildfire smoke is linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 and that five to seven days of exposure can cause strokes and damage the heart and lungs.
Dr. Andrea Garcia of the American Medical Association attests that exposure to fires is also associated with cancer, cognitive issues, heart attacks, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. “Children, the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions are the most susceptible to serious outcomes. But the CDC does say that everyone, even healthy people, are vulnerable to those risks posed by wildfire smoke,” Dr. Garcia emphasizes.
Why Do Fires Cause These Symptoms?
According to the California Air Resources Board, inhaling smoke leads to tiny particles depositing into the lung and sometimes even the bloodstream, which can then affect the heart and other organs. Larger particles from fires can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
Additionally, residents of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas need to keep in mind that the pollution from the fires is especially toxic. While “normal” wildfires burn only natural vegetation such as plants and trees, the Los Angeles fires are also burning materials and human-made products that contain harmful chemicals such as plastics, metals, batteries, pesticides, and vehicles. Because of this, the ash and dust produced by the fires are contaminated and may contain cancer-causing substances such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead.
How Can I Keep Myself Safe?
1. Heed the advice of public officials. Since the fires began, government officials have issued smoke advisories, evacuation orders, a local health emergency declaration, windblown dust and ash advisories, notices of water contamination, and an order barring the cleanup of fire debris until after a hazardous materials inspection. Please follow the advice of local officials, as doing otherwise may lead to serious health problems.
2. If you notice smoke or ash, stay indoors. Paying attention to the presence of smoke or ash is more helpful than the Air Quality Index map, which measures five types of air pollution but does not detect windblown ash particles. If the map is green but you see ash outside, continue to take precautions.
3. Do your best to maintain the cleanliness of your indoor air. Close your windows and doors, use air conditioning only on “recirculate” mode, update filters to MERV 13, and use HEPA air purifiers.
4. If you need to go outside when ash or smoke is present, use an N95 or P100 mask. Cloth masks, dust masks, and bandanas are not effective.
5. Smoke particles may accumulate indoors during prolonged periods of fire, and you may not be able to see them. If you are indoors but are not feeling well, consider masking or relocating.
6. Seek medical help if necessary. If you notice symptoms such as nausea, unusual tiredness, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, wheezing, or severe coughing, go to urgent care or contact your doctor. Call 911 immediately if you experience life-threatening symptoms.