Staying Indoors
The most common advice given during a smoke pollution episode is to stay indoors. How well this works depends entirely on how clean the indoor air is. This strategy can usually provide some protection, especially in a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air-conditioner can be set to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air. Staying inside with the doors and windows closed can usually reduce exposure to ambient air pollution by about a third. In homes without air conditioning, indoor concentrations of fine particles can approach 70 to 100 percent of the outdoor concentrations. In very leaky homes and buildings, staying inside with doors and windows closed may offer little protection. If doors and windows are left open, pollution levels indoors and outdoors will be about the same.
The possibility of heat stress is also an important drawback of staying inside during smoke events. The fire season typically extends from mid-summer through the early fall, when temperatures are often high. For those who depend on open windows and doors for cooling, keeping windows and doors closed can be problematic. Older individuals and others in frail health run the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If outdoor temperatures are very high, and you don’t have air conditioning, you could stay with friends or family who do, spend time at places with air conditioning (like the mall), or leave the area until the heavy smoke subsides.
Smoke events are usually interrupted by periods of relatively clean air. When air quality improves, even temporarily, you should “air out” your home to reduce indoor air pollution. During those times of less smoke, you can also clean your home, including mopping, dusting, and vacuuming, to help rid your home of particles that may have settled and can get stirred back up into the air.
Staying Indoors
The most common advice given during a smoke pollution episode is to stay indoors. How well this works depends entirely on how clean the indoor air is. This strategy can usually provide some protection, especially in a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air-conditioner can be set to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air. Staying inside with the doors and windows closed can usually reduce exposure to ambient air pollution by about a third. In homes without air conditioning, indoor concentrations of fine particles can approach 70 to 100 percent of the outdoor concentrations. In very leaky homes and buildings, staying inside with doors and windows closed may offer little protection. If doors and windows are left open, pollution levels indoors and outdoors will be about the same.
The possibility of heat stress is also an important drawback of staying inside during smoke events. The fire season typically extends from mid-summer through the early fall, when temperatures are often high. For those who depend on open windows and doors for cooling, keeping windows and doors closed can be problematic. Older individuals and others in frail health run the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If outdoor temperatures are very high, and you don’t have air conditioning, you could stay with friends or family who do, spend time at places with air conditioning (like the mall), or leave the area until the heavy smoke subsides.
Smoke events are usually interrupted by periods of relatively clean air. When air quality improves, even temporarily, you should “air out” your home to reduce indoor air pollution. During those times of less smoke, you can also clean your home, including mopping, dusting, and vacuuming, to help rid your home of particles that may have settled and can get stirred back up into the air.
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