These days smoke has blanketed several areas in Montenegro, so the Institute for Public Health issued recommendations for protecting the population from increased air pollution caused by fires.
What does fire smoke contain and why is it harmful to health?
Smoke is the result of incomplete combustion. It consists of fine particles, gases and water vapour. In addition to gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, the smoke also contains fine particles.
Smoke inhalation is harmful to health.
People with chronic heart and/or lung disease and asthma are at the highest risk of smoke inhalation.
Children, pregnant women and elderly people are the groups more vulnerable to harmful effects of air pollution than the general population.
The concentration of fine particles in the smoke, particularly those less than 2.5μm in diameter, represents the greatest risk.
Prolonged exposure to these particles causes the appearance and progression of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, the mortality of these diseases increases, and it is proven to be carcinogenic.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
“Follow the air quality reports and recommendations by the competent authorities responsible for measuring and monitoring air quality. If there is no official air quality information, rely on common sense – the lower visibility, the worse the state of the air,” the Institute recommends.
It further advises that, if you see and feel the smell of smoke, they are certainly not conditions for staying outside, doing physical activity or taking children out. Therefore, avoiding these activities is recommended, particularly for vulnerable groups of the population.
“During episodes of increased air pollution, it is recommended to stay indoors with closed doors and windows to keep fresh air inside the rooms. Use air conditioners, taking care that the air filters are cleaned,” the Institute advises.
Avoid using anything that burns when indoors, such as gas cookers.
“Avoid frying or baking food, using vacuum cleaner, as well as paints, solvents or other volatile substances at homes. Do not smoke because it additionally contaminates your lungs and damages the health of people around you. If you suffer from asthma or some other chronic illness, take your medication regularly according to your doctor’s recommendations. If the symptoms get worse, contact/visit your primary care physician. If you have symptoms of heart and/or lung disease, which may be associated with smoke inhalation, such as coughing, breathing difficulty, chest pain, unusual fatigue, or dizziness, contact your primary care physician or emergency department,” it is stated in the recommendations.
In order to protect the health of the population, it is recommended to cancel previously scheduled outdoor events such as concerts, outdoor sports events etc. during pollution episodes.
