Forest fires are a fact of life for those of us living in the western United States.  Poor air quality can trigger asthma, heart attacks, and other illness. Reducing your exposure to fire smoke may help you avoid these costly diseases.

If unsure about the current air quality in your area, go to AirNow.gov.

6 ways to protect your health during wild fire season. 

1. Avoid exercising outside when its smokey.  It may be hard to forgo outdoor runs, bicycle rides, or walks, but exercising outdoors will increase the amount of smoke entering your lungs.  Even a little smoke will increase oxidative stress on the lungs. Very small air borne particulates can travel from your lungs into your brain, kidneys, liver and other tissues. Additionally, wildfires increase the risk of breathing in mercury (see list of research below).
2. Make sure to replace your air conditioner/furnace filter(s) and clean your air ducts. Air conditioning units push air through the same ducts as your furnace. Air filter and air duct maintenance help to improve indoor air quality.
3. Sleep with windows closed at night. Sleeping with your windows open is just like spending those hours outside in the smoke.
4. If possible, invest in a HEPA air purifier to use in your living and sleeping spaces.   Avoid any purifier that creates ozone. 
5. Nutrients can help support lung health. Please ask your medical provider for dosages that will work for you.
   1. N-acetyl cysteine helps to break up mucous associated with asthma and pneumonia.
   2. Vitamin C helps reduce oxidative damage to the lungs.
   3. Magnesium and Vitamin B6 are associated with nutrient deficiency found in many asthmatics.
6. Consider herbal lung formulas containing, marshmallow, mullein, and/or elecampane. 

A personalized herbal formula or homeopathic remedy may be helpful when you do suffer from forest fire smoke. Contact Dr. Rodgers if you need such a remedy.

The EPA has additional information about how to reduce smoke exposure HERE

Research regarding mercury increase during wild land fires:

Sigler JM, Lee X, Munger W. Emission and long-range transport of gaseous mercury from a large-scale Canadian boreal forest fire. Environ Sci Technol. 2003;37(19):4343-4347. doi:10.1021/es026401r

Wang Y, Huang J, Zananski TJ, Hopke PK, Holsen TM. Impacts of the Canadian forest fires on atmospheric mercury and carbonaceous particles in Northern New York. Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Nov 15;44(22):8435-40. doi: 10.1021/es1024806. Epub 2010 Oct 27. PMID: 20979360.

Zeng S, Li X, Yang L, Wang D. Understanding heavy metal distribution in timberline vegetations: A case from the Gongga Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Sci Total Environ. 2023;874:162523. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162523

Witt EL, Kolka RK, Nater EA, Wickman TR. Forest fire effects on mercury deposition in the boreal forest. Environ Sci Technol. 2009;43(6):1776-1782. doi:10.1021/es802634y

Navrátil T, Hojdová M, Rohovec J, Penízek V, Varilová Z. Effect of fire on pools of mercury in forest soil, Central Europe. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009;83(2):269-274. doi:10.1007/s00128-009-9705-9

Biswas A, Blum JD, Keeler GJ. Mercury storage in surface soils in a central Washington forest and estimated release during the 2001 Rex Creek Fire. Sci Total Environ. 2008;404(1):129-138. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.05.043

St Louis VL, Rudd JW, Kelly CA, et al. Importance of the forest canopy to fluxes of methyl mercury and total mercury to boreal ecosystems. Environ Sci Technol. 2001;35(15):3089-3098. doi:10.1021/es001924p