Wildfire Smoke: The Invisible Health Threat

Send us a text

The invisible danger is crossing borders. As massive wildfires rage across Canada, the resulting smoke is drifting south, infiltrating American cities and threatening millions with its toxic payload. But this isn't ordinary pollution – studies reveal wildfire smoke can be ten times more harmful than typical air pollution.

What makes this smoke particularly dangerous is its complex composition. Those tiny PM2.5 particles – just 1/70th the width of a human hair – penetrate deep into your lungs and bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation. Combined with benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals released when forests and structures burn, this creates a perfect storm of respiratory and cardiovascular threats. As pulmonologist Dr. Neha Selenki explains, "The particles stick and the immune system activates, creating inflammation" throughout the body.

The health impacts are far-reaching and severe. Beyond the immediate coughing and eye irritation, exposure increases risks of heart attacks, strokes, and can worsen conditions from asthma to diabetes. Perhaps most surprising is the documented effect on mental health – a 2025 Harvard study found significant increases in emergency department visits for depression and anxiety correlating with wildfire smoke exposure. Children, elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions face the greatest risks, but no one is truly immune to these effects.

Protecting yourself requires understanding the threat. HEPA air purifiers can reduce indoor particle levels by up to 85%, while properly fitted N95 masks (not surgical or cloth alternatives) provide essential protection outdoors. Some preliminary evidence suggests anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and turmeric may help combat the body's inflammatory response, though more research is needed. With more frequent and severe wildfire seasons projected ahead, adapting to this new reality has become essential for safeguarding our health in the coming years. Check your local air quality index daily and take proactive steps to minimize exposure – your body will thank you.

Support the show

Hi friends, welcome to the new normal, Big Life Podcast! We bring you natural news and stories about nature that we hope will inspire you to get outside and adventure, along with a step-by-step plan to help you practice what you’ve learned and create your own new normal and live the biggest life you can dream. I’m your host, Antoinette Lee, the Wellness Warrior.

Sign up for our newsletter for more health tips and natural health news.

We want to hear from you. Take a three-question survey. Tell us about your biggest health challenge. We'll do the research and publish helpful information about the topics that interest you the most.

Find us on X-Formerly Twitter @NNBLBlog

Email us at [e-mail]

Website https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-llfe-blog/

Thanks for listening & Live Strong, Explore Boldly, Be Ready!

We'd be grateful if you shared this podcast with someone who needs it.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Wildfires are tearing through Canada.
As of June 5, 2025, there areapproximately 203 active
wildfires burning across Canada,with 102 classified as out of
control, according to theCanadian Interagency Forest Fire
Centre, from British Columbiato Manitoba.
These fires have forced 25,000residents to evacuate and are

(00:23):
now impacting air quality acrossthe United States.
Smoke has drifted into northernMinnesota, wisconsin, the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan and partsof the Northeast and Southeast,
triggering air quality alertsin multiple states.
The smoke is not containable.
It goes where it goes, saysSusan Annenberg, chair of

(00:44):
Environmental and Occupoccupational health at George
Washington University,highlighting its far-reaching
impact.
The air quality index, or AQI,in affected areas has spiked,
with readings in places like NewYork City hitting unhealthy
levels, with an AQI of 169 inpast events, 269 in past events.
This poor air quality stems fromfine particulate matter known

(01:06):
as PM2.5, tiny particles lessthan 2.5 micrometers wide, about
1 70th the width of a humanhair.
These particles, along withtoxic chemicals like benzene,
formaldehyde and polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs,
make wildfire smoke particularlydangerous.
Wildfire smoke is quite acomplex mixture, explains Dr

(01:31):
Vijay Limai, a climate andhealth scientist at the National
Resources Defense Council.
It's made up of fine particlesand gases that can penetrate
deeply and wreak havoc on thebody.
Unlike typical air pollution,wildfire smoke can be up to 10
times more harmful due to itsunique chemical makeup,
including metals and syntheticcompounds from burned structures

(01:53):
.
Listen until the end for a listof health conditions made worse
by wildfire.
Wildfire health risks spikeinflammation.
The health risks are severe.
Short-term exposure can causecoughing, wheezing and eye
irritation, while prolongedexposure is linked to heart
attacks, strokes and lung cancer.

(02:15):
A 2021 California study foundwildfire PM2.5 caused more
inflammation than otherpollution sources.
We breathe in smoke and it getsinto our bloodstream, says Dr
Neha Selenki, a pulmonologist atCleveland Clinic.
The particles stick and theimmune system activates,
creating inflammation.

(02:35):
Vulnerable groups like children, older adults, pregnant women
and those with asthma or heartconditions face heightened risks
.
For example, chicago residentMaria Gonzalez shared Last
summer the smoke made my asthmaso bad I couldn't leave the
house for days.
It was like breathing through astraw.

(02:56):
Here's how to protect yourselffrom wildfire smoke draw.
Here's how to protect yourselffrom wildfire smoke.
Experts recommend stayingindoors with windows closed,
using air conditioning andemploying portable air purifiers
with HEPA filters which canreduce indoor particle levels by
up to 85% per the EPA.
You want the biggest purifieryou can afford, advises Dr

(03:17):
Barbara Mann, a pulmonologist atMount Sinai.
N95 respirators, when worncorrectly, offer significant
protection outdoors, unlikecloth or surgical masks, which
fail to filter fine particles.
The CDC cautions that N95s maynot fit children and can be
challenging for those withcertain lung conditions.

(03:39):
For those exposed, naturalremedies may help detoxify the
body.
Thank you.
Greens and turmeric can combatinflammation.
Herbal teas such as nettle ordandelion may support liver

(04:03):
function, aiding detoxification.
Read our step-by-step articleon how to make dandelion gummies
.
I started drinking green teaand eating more kale after the
smoke hit, says Minneapolisresident James Carter.
It helped me feel less sluggish.
While these remedies lackextensive research for wildfire
smoke specifically, they alignwith general detoxification

(04:25):
principles.
As a mass of unexplained,fiercer wildfires occurs, the
threat to air quality and publichealth grows.
With no end in sight forCanada's wildfire season,
proactive measures are essentialto protect your health from
this invisible threat.
Here are a list of healthconditions made worse by

(04:46):
wildfire smoke.
Exposure to wildfire smoke canmake a range of health
conditions worse due to itstoxic components, particularly
fine particulate matter, carbonmonoxide, benzene, formaldehyde
and other volatile organiccompounds.
Asthma is made worse bywildfire smoke, especially PM2.5
, triggers asthma attacks byirritating airways leading to

(05:15):
wheezing, coughing and shortnessof breath.
Studies show increasedemergency department visits for
asthma during wildfire events.
For example, a California studyfound an 18-22% spike in
respiratory issues during largewildfires.
Chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease or COPD, is made worse
by wildfire smoke.
Smoke makes COPD symptoms worse, causing flare-ups that

(05:36):
increase hospitalizations.
The EPA notes that fineparticles can worsen breathing
difficulties in COPD patients.
Bronchitis and respiratoryinfections is made worse by
wildfire smoke.
Smoke exposure increases therisk of bronchitis and pneumonia
by suppressing lung macrophagefunction, making individuals

(05:56):
more susceptible to infections.
A study linked wildfire smoketo higher influenza cases.
Post-exposure Lung functiondecline is made worse by
wildfire smoke.
Even healthy individuals mayexperience temporary reductions
in lung function and pulmonaryinflammation from PM2.5, with
prolonged exposure potentiallycausing chronic issues in

(06:18):
vulnerable groups.
Heart disease is made worse bywildfire smoke.
Pm2.5 and carbon monoxidereduce oxygen delivery,
aggravating conditions likeangina and increasing the risk
of heart attacks or arrhythmias.
Australian studies reportedhigher out-of-hospital cardiac
arrests during wildfire events.
Heart failure is made worse bywildfire smoke.

(06:41):
The EPA highlights thatwildfire smoke can exacerbate
heart failure, particularly inolder adults, due to systemic
inflammation caused by particlesentering the bloodstream.
Hypertension or high bloodpressure is made worse by
wildfire smoke.
The stress of smoke exposurecan elevate blood pressure,
worsening cardiovascularoutcomes in those with

(07:03):
pre-existing hypertension.
Depression, anxiety and mooddisorders are made worse by
wildfire smoke.
A 2025 Harvard study found thatan increase in
wildfire-specific PM2.5 waslinked to more emergency
department visits for mentalhealth issues, including
depression and anxiety,especially among women, children

(07:24):
and Black and Hispanicindividuals.
The smoke's physiologicalstress and inflammatory effects
may directly worsen theseconditions.
Neurological disorders are madeworse by wildfire smoke.
Emerging evidence suggestswildfire smoke may increase the
risk of dementia and otherneurological conditions.
A 2024 study reported a 21%higher odds of dementia

(07:49):
diagnosis increase in wildfirePM2.5 concentration.
Diabetes is made worse bywildfire smoke.
Smoke exposure can worsenglycemic control in diabetic
individuals, increasingcardiovascular risks.
The American Lung Associationnotes diabetes as a condition
aggravated by wildfire smoke.

(08:12):
Cancer is made worse by wildfiresmoke.
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 andchemicals like benzene and
wildfire smoke is correlatedwith an increased risk of lung
cancer and other cancers, thoughevidence is mixed.
Valley fever orcoccidioidomycosis is made worse
by wildfire smoke.
In California, large wildfireswere linked to an 18-22% spike

(08:38):
in invasive fungal infectionslike valley fever, which causes
fatigue and lung damage.
Prenatal and pediatric health ismade worse by wildfire smoke.
Pregnant women exposed to smokeface risks of reduced birth
weight and preterm birth due toaltered immune responses.
Children may develop newallergies or chronic asthma from

(08:59):
repeated exposure.
Vulnerable populations are at ahigher risk from wildfire smoke
.
From wildfire smoke.
Higher respiratory rates anddeveloping lungs make children
more susceptible to asthma,bronchitis and emotional
distress from smoke exposure.
Increased prevalence of heartand lung diseases in those over
65 heightens risks of severeoutcomes, including mortality.

(09:21):
Low-income households, limitedaccess to air conditioning, poor
nutrition or limited access tohealth care makes health impacts
worse, particularly forrespiratory and mental health
conditions.
In conclusion, with no end tothe toxic smoke from Canada
across the US, everyone shouldpay close attention to the

(09:44):
amount of damaging smoke intheir area and take measures to
protect their health.
Read the full article and alist of citations at nnblblog.