There is confusion about how safe L.A.’s air quality is as fires continue to burn and spew wildfire smoke and toxins. We look at air quality levels, what’s true and what’s not, and what people can do.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, host:
Air quality in Los Angeles has improved since last week when the wildfires first broke out – that’s good news. However, there are still questions about how safe the air actually is now. So we turn to NPR’s Alejandra Borunda from the climate desk for some answers. Hello.
ALEJANDRA BORUNDA, BYLINE: Hey.
KELLY: Hello.
BORUNDA: How’s it going?
KELLY: Okay. So of course there is data that people can rely on – try to find out whether the air is safe to breathe. I’m thinking about things like the air quality index. Does this give you enough information to make a call?
BORUNDA: Yes. That’s a great question. And the short answer is no, but it’s a good starting point. So the AQI includes measurements of five different air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, such as particulate matter and ozone. But the AQI is actually designed to tell you about normal types of pollution like car exhaust or smog, and scientists believe smoke poses different and potentially higher risks. So several experts told me that AQI is a helpful measurement for indicating whether there is smoke or ash from a wildfire in the air, but it won’t tell you everything.
KELLY: Ahh. So what is missing?
BORUNDA: Yes, that’s missing – it doesn’t take into account a lot of the gas or particulate contamination that comes from wildfires, particularly those that burn through structures, as we’ve seen here. Think of all the synthetic roof tiles, the sofas, the appliances – all the stuff that burned. These can produce carcinogenic substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos fibers or metals. Michael Jerrett is a wildfire smoke expert at UCLA. He puts it like this.
MICHAEL JERRETT: This is definitely a health issue, and there’s no way to really prevent it.
BORUNDA: As soon as they catch fire, the pollutants enter the air and then spread through smoke and ash. And the other factor here is wind. When the winds shift, air quality can change very quickly.
KELLY: So tell me, OK, yeah, good news – the air in LA has improved. It might even look better, like brighter skies, but those carcinogens – things like benzene – could still be in the air?
BORUNDA: Yes. That’s the hard part – honestly, we don’t know. It’s not really measured consistently. The fire no longer burns houses and cars, which is really good. But the old ashes scattered throughout the city can still be picked up and redistributed by each new wind. So experts told me: Keep an eye on the AQI because that way you’ll at least know if there’s something in the air. And if so, you can probably assume that there are some bad things going on too, but it’s nothing like last week.
And several experts suggested looking at purple aerial maps to get truly neighborhood-specific information. Or you could go even smaller, like wildfire smoke expert Luke Montrose of Colorado State University. He always has personal air quality monitors on hand, like these little ones you clip to a backpack.
LUKE MONTROSE: Knowledge is power. I have a whole bag of them that I carry with me.
BORUNDA: Again, you won’t learn anything about the toxic pollutants, but they can give you an idea of the risk.
KELLY: Bottom line: What measures should people be thinking about to protect themselves and their families?
BORUNDA: Yeah, I think the good news is that it’s – honestly, pretty easy. Again, keep an eye on the AQI as an indicator. Run the air filters you have in your home and wear masks to remove particles. These can help with asbestos, for example. Activated carbon filters can help with gases such as benzene. But overall I think that’s the message. There is a saying: The dose makes the poison. So if you’re worried, play it safe. Lisa Patel, a pediatrics expert at Stanford University, says right now that might mean limiting time outside. And…
LISA PATEL: Trust your nose. So if you smell that pollution, put the mask on.
BORUNDA: As for schools, Patel says many have actually upgraded their HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, but you could always get portable air filters for your children’s classrooms.
KELLY: All right (ph). Thank you, Alejandra.
BORUNDA: Thank you very much.
KELLY: This is NPR’s Alejandra Borunda.
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