Wildfire Update: Health Effects & Air Quality

Health Effects in the Austin area

Smoke from area wildfires are blanketing much of Austin prompting concerns from area residents about potential health impacts.  According to Dr. Paul Hinchey, Medical Director for the Austin/Travis County EMS System, smoke can pose a potential health risk, especially for people with chronic heart or lung disease. Children and older adults are also at greater risk of adverse health effects and even healthy people can be affected by smoky conditions.

Common symptoms from smoke exposure are burning, watery eyes, scratchy throat, and headaches.  Other symptoms may include coughing, runny nose, irritated sinuses, and shortness of breath.

There are some preventative measures everyone can take to help protect themselves and their families.  The most important is to limit exposure to the smoke.  Stay indoors as much as possible until the smoke clears.  Keep windows and doors closed and air conditioning on with the fresh air intakes closed.  Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution by not smoking, vacuuming, or burning candles.  Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.  Avoid strenuous activity, particularly outdoor activity.  If you have respiratory or heart problems, be sure you have an adequate supply of your daily medications, take all medications as prescribed and see your doctor if your symptoms become worse.

For more information on air quality:

www.tceq.texas.gov/response/smoke

For additional information on health effects of smoke from wildfires:

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/nat_public.shtm

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/pdf/wildfiresfacts.pdf

http://www.airquality.org/smokeimpact/

For more information on prepare your family for any emergency:

http://www.texasprepares.org/

Statewide Air Quality

TCEQ continues to monitor statewide air quality

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's senior meteorologist has indicated that are a few large smoke plumes evident on satellite imagery this morning in East and Central Texas, and PM2.5 measurements show widespread but locally variable amounts of lingering smoke from yesterday over much of the eastern half of the state.  Airport visibility reports indicate thick smoke at Longview and Crockett this morning, apparently associated with large smoke plumes seen on satellite imagery.

Smoke is likely to be heavy near and downwind of the large fires, but levels should generally be in the "moderate" range on the Air Quality Index in most areas away from the most intense smoke plumes.

The TCEQ continues to urge residents to use their best judgment when near heavy smoke.  If intense smoke can be seen and smelled, people should use common sense in evacuating areas where smoke levels are high.

These levels of smoke would not be expected to cause any long-term health effects.  It can aggravate allergies and asthma, and people with respiratory diseases may have increased symptoms.

Smoke contains small particles and gasses that irritate the eyes and lungs.  Exposures to high concentrations of these particles can cause persistent cough, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.  Children, older adults, and people with pre-existing heart or lung disease are more susceptible to lower levels of smoke than healthy adults.

More information can be found on the TCEQ's Smoke, Dust and Soot webpage http://www.tceq.texas.gov/response/smoke/index.html.

For the most current information on the Texas wildfire situation, visit the Texas Forest Service http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=12888.