Looking after your lungs under smoky conditions

It’s important for people living with a lung condition to look after themselves and be aware of extra pollutants in the air when smoke descends in their town or city following bush fires or hazard reduction burning. 

Additionally, as the winter chill descends, and woodfired heaters are lit it’s timely to highlight safety measures which should be taken if you are exposed to smoke. 

When wood is burnt for heating, a mixture of fine particles and toxic gases are released into the air as smoke. When breathed in, these particles (which can include ultrafine particulate matter known as PM2.5) can go deep into the lungs, enter the blood and travel throughout the body.  

The evidence now tells us exposure to wood smoke has both short-term and long-term impacts on health.   

For people living with any kind of lung condition, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, small elevations in PM2.5 can make symptoms much worse. People vary in their sensitivity to smoke, but the greater the intensity of the pollution, the larger the number of people affected, and the worse the health impacts.  

Smoke can also seriously affect people with heart disease, heart failure or a previous stroke. Air pollution breathed repeatedly over months and years increases the development of all these diseases, and day to day spikes can trigger serious complications like a heart attack.    

For people living with lung health issues, it is important to work out a clear plan with your doctor for rapidly detecting and responding to any deterioration in symptoms.  

Your plan should involve identifying and accessing cleaner air spaces – this can partially be achieved through closing doors and windows early in the evening to minimise leakage of smoke into the house, or considering other indoor air quality purification like HEPA filters.  

If you’re in an area affected by wood smoke, where possible you should: 

• Avoid physical activity outdoors while smoke is in the area (consider indoor activities instead) 
• Rest more frequently and keep away from the smoke 
• Follow your action plan and treatment advised by your doctor and keep your medicines close at hand 
• Close windows and doors to minimise smoke coming into your home 
• Switch your air conditioner (if you have one) to recycle or recirculate mode 
• Check the expiry dates and the supply of your commonly used medicines. 
• Have your emergency plan ready in the event of an evacuation or the loss of essential services (such as power loss) during bush fires. 

Lung Foundation Australia continue to advocate for the adoption of WHO air quality guidelines, and for policies and programs that protect lung health. For more information, access our air pollution fact sheet below.