Air Quality Tips

The following information is adapted from the University of Washington and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Air Quality Tips

Stay updated on real-time air quality conditions and protect your health from wildfire smoke. Information has been adapted from the University of Washington and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Ever look outside and notice it’s particularly smoky? Here in New England, wildfires are becoming more common, which has a greater negative impact on our air quality. Fine particles in wildfire smoke can result in health symptoms and be harmful to health because they can reach lower areas of the lungs or even enter the bloodstream. Some individuals, such as those with certain health conditions, are more vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke and other types of air pollution. Wildfire smoke may reach Tufts locations from various areas both inside and outside of Massachusetts due to wildfire smoke patterns.

How can I check the Outdoor Air Quality?
- Check the EPA’s AirNow website for a reliable report of current and forecasted air quality in your area.
- AirNow provides the hourly Air Quality Index (AQI) and a pollution rating of the outdoor air, along with any potential health effects and recommended steps to reduce exposure.
- Also, check the Fire and Smoke Map to get the AQI closest to your surrounding location.
- The university monitors air quality for our campus locations through the following resources:
  - Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
    - Locate the sensor on the map closest to your location for the most accurate AQI.
    - The Map includes hourly data from thousands of air quality sensors that measure the concentration of fine particle pollution.
    - State of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Air Quality Monitoring Network.
- Some exceptions may apply, such as for remote locations that do not have representative monitoring stations.
General Precautions
- When the AQI is greater than 101, it is recommended that sensitive groups, such as older adults and young children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory or heart conditions, stay indoors and keep windows closed. When the AQI is greater than 151, it is recommended that everyone stay indoors. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks. For detailed guidance on actions to take at different AQI levels, please refer to the EPA’s Patient Exposure and the Air Quality Index website.
  - Protect yourself while working indoors
    - The best way to protect yourself against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke is to reduce wildfire smoke exposure, for example, by seeking clean air shelters and cleaner air spaces. Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible to avoid decreasing indoor air quality.
  - Read about the health effects of wildfire smoke
    - Read more information on the health effects of wildfire smoke and tips for protecting yourself on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wildfires and Your Safety website.
Adverse Symptoms of Wildfire Smoke
- Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials.. Even someone who is considered healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including:
  - Coughing
  - Trouble breathing normally
  - Stinging eyes
  - A scratchy throat
  - Runny nose
  - Irritated sinuses
  - Wheezing and shortness of breath
  - Chest pain
  - Headaches
  - An asthma attack
  - Tiredness
  - Fast heartbeat
- Older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke.
Definitions
- Air Quality Index (AQI): The method used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate air quality using color-coded categories; it shows the air quality for the most current hour available in a region by using a calculation that involves multiple hours of past data.
- Wildfire smoke: Airborne emissions from fires in wildlands or in adjacent developed areas. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and plants, buildings, and other material. The primary concern with exposure to wildfire smoke is that it contains fine solid particles (also known as particulate matter) that are 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) in size or smaller.
- PM 2.5: Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, known as particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).
- PM 10: Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, known as particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller. They are more likely to deposit in the larger airways of the upper region of the lungs. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).
- Sensitive groups: People with preexisting health conditions and those who are sensitive to air pollution are among those most likely to experience health problems from exposure to wildfire smoke. Examples of sensitive groups include:
  - People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema, and those who smoke.
  - People with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, flu, or those with or recovering from COVID-19.
  - People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina, and those who have had a heart attack or stroke.
  - Children under eighteen years old and adults over age sixty-five.
  - Pregnant women.
  - People with diabetes.
  - People with other medical or health conditions that can be exacerbated by exposure to wildfire smoke, as determined by a physician.