WASHINGTON, USA — Growing wildfire seasons have turned smoke into a dreaded staple of Northwest summers, and recent studies argue the increase has been significant enough to erase years' worth of air quality progress in the region.
Air quality experts say there are a number of contributors to increasing wildfires and, consequently, more smoke.
"Smoke is clearly getting worse across the western U.S., well really all of North America," said University of Washington-Bothell Professor of Environmental Chemistry Dan Jaffe. "About every other year, we are having these major wildfire seasons, there's fuel buildup, climate change which dries out the fuels, and people being in the forest."
At Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, it's meant more calls for doctors and nurse practitioners seeing patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and similar illnesses.
"That's one of our busiest times now, the last couple years, we do see a lot of patients with chronic lung issues like asthma and COPD and so we tend to field a lot of phone calls," nurse practitioner Tyler Kuhk said. "We're seeing a lot of changes in certain environments with air quality and it's something we take for granted because air is invisible, we may not see it...but the impact air quality has on your lungs [is significant]."
His patients should be seeing the benefits of cleaner air, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations on emissions, but a recent study showed wildfires have erased two decades' worth of gains in the Western region.
The graphic above shows the worst black carbon pollution concentration in the country. Parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho are all on the list.
Wildfire smoke is an especially dangerous form of pollution because the particles are so small they can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream.
Both Jaffe and Kuhk say preparing for the season to come is key.
"I think it's just being aware, because everybody's gonna be different," Kuhk said. "Some people are affected more, and some are affected less, so being in tune with your health and if you're an asthmatic, talking about this early [with your provider]."
Jaffe recommends adding an air purifier or, if a more cost-effective option is desired, a box fan fitted with a filter, before wildfire season begins.
"Don't wait until the fire's here or the smoke is here to do these preparations; you need to be prepared in advance," Jaffe said.
Watch KING 5's Environmental playlist here: