As someone living in an area that experiences annual wildfire and smoke season (around September usually, here in Seattle/WA) the smoke can get so bad and into hazardous levels. The air quality is so poor with extremely high PM2.5 levels it can’t truly make you feel inflamed and ill.

Fine, inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5) is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke because it can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream.

Here’s an EPA article about wildfire smoke health concerns

I know even at moderate levels I feel a noticeable difference in my breathing, quality of sleep, hydration, fatigue, irritability, etc. Just makes me feel like garbage! Without preexisting conditions like asthma or anything. And you can tell the whole community seems…more impatient, “punchy,” sorta dazed, people coughing everywhere… Blows my mind how many people just carry on with their everyday routines and exert a lot of energy/do outdoor high intensity recreation/hike/bike etc. without any breathing protection. Even here in Seattle when COVID masking was so widespread. It’s like the concept of smoke is something you “see over there” or claiming kids are young and healthy (when they’re at higher risk of impacts due to not fully developed organs).

I LOATHE smoke season SO MUCH. 2020 Seattle was up with Portland with the worst AQ in the world. As was last September-October, nearly 2full months of bad smoke in the Seattle region. From a human caused fire in addition to several others burning. Horrifying, sickening, preventable.

Wildfire smoke is a public health risk. Alongside industry, vehicles, etc.