Wood fire smoke
Bush fires remain a threat in Australia all year round and controlled burning may be necessary in preparation for bush fire season, so it’s important people remain aware and vigilant of the risks to their lung health, and what they can do to protect themselves. People who have poor lung health should try to minimise their exposure to wood fire smoke and pollutants. Smoke and pollutants in the air can penetrate deeply into the lungs and irritate the airways causing symptoms in people with existing problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma to worsen, including wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Children, the elderly, smokers and people with pre-existing illnesses such as heart or lung conditions (including asthma) are more sensitive to breathing in fine particles from smoke.