asthma<\/a> or heart disease, prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can be fatal. For example, a 10-unit increase in PM2.5 can lead to an increase in emergency room visits for heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and respiratory issues. Additionally, the damage that PM2.5 does to the lungs can make people more susceptible to viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen the body encounters particulate matter, the immune system addresses the issue to keep you safe. Because of the immune system\u2019s focus on fighting PM2.5, it doesn\u2019t put as much energy toward fighting COVID-19. Essentially, inhaling particulate matter from wildfire smoke compromised the body\u2019s ability to battle COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Does The Data Say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The Harvard study compared satellite Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality assessments with publicly available health data. The data indicated that wildfire smoke was associated with and average 11% more COVID-19 cases and 8% more deaths. Some counties with higher PM2.5 exposure saw more dramatic percentages. For example, counties in Washington and California saw a 20% increase in COVID-19 cases during the 2020 wildfire season. The entire wildfire season in California, Washington, and Oregon contributed to 19,742 COVID-19 cases and 748 deaths. The reality is that 2020 was a record-setting wildfire season for the West, with California\u2019s fires releasing over 100 million tons of greenhouse gases. Washington experienced more individual fires in 2020 than any year on record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wildfires And COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n From August 15th to October 15th, 2020, fire activity was at an all-time high. Daily levels of PM2.5 were much higher during wildfire days than non-wildfire days. The Harvard study observed an average of 31.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air on wildfire days. In comparison, non-wildfire days saw an average of 6.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air. These hazardous levels were nothing compared to some counties, which experienced PM2.5 levels higher than 500 micrograms per cubic meter of air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lung irritation from wildfire smoke leaves the body susceptible to any type of virus. By irritating the lungs and causing inflammation, the body can easily contract respiratory or lung infections like COVID-19<\/a>. Even wearing a cloth mask in areas affected by wildfires may still not be enough. KN95 and N95 respirators do a better job at preventing particulate matter from entering the lungs, but it\u2019s still possible for them to pass through the mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe bottom line is that wildfire smoke and COVID-19 is a dangerous combination. As COVID-19 variants develop and the wildfires continue to occur, keep yourself safe and avoid smoke as much as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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A new Harvard study suggests that thousands of COVID-19 cases may be attributed to particulate matter in wildfire smoke.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":129915,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,50],"tags":[7262,8104,8427,8440,2566,2672,2743,2775,3668,7149],"yoast_head":"\n
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