Wildfires and physical activity

July 31, 2023 – Defence Stories

Question: The summer months are my favourite time to be physically active, but this year, wildfires have been covering my community under a blanket of smoke. Some days the haze has been so bad I have wondered if it was safe to drive. I have no major health problems, but I am concerned about what breathing in contaminated air could do to me. Can you provide some advice on exercising outside when the air quality is poor? - Smokey Cody

Answer: Dear Smokey – The recent outbreak of wildfires across Canada has increased the number of potentially harmful gases and particles in the air throughout many communities. Like yourself, this has many people wondering if it is safe to exercise outside. Unfortunately, because of global warming this may become a problem Canadians have to deal with more often.

When you are trying to decide if the air quality is safe enough to exercise outside, you should take into consideration at least two factors:

• #1. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). AQHI information is available for communities throughout Canada, and it is calculated based on the concentration of three potentially harmful air pollutants – ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. It rates air quality from 1 to 10+ with 1-3 (low risk), 7-10 (high risk), and 10+ (very high risk). The concern about exercising in poor quality air is that inhaling higher concentrations of air pollutants can cause inflammation and tissue swelling in your airways and lungs. These will make breathing more difficult, especially if you already have lung problems.
• #2. If you are a person at risk. People considered to be at increased risk from exercising in poor quality air include seniors, pregnant women, smokers, infants and young children, people who do strenuous work outside, and people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung diseases. The AQHI provides activity guidance to people who are at risk and people who are not at risk. People at risk are advised to avoid exerting themselves at lower index levels than people who are not at risk.

Keep in mind that wearing a N95 mask (or equivalent) may be helpful, but it will only eliminate some of the particulate matter in the air. Unfortunately, masks do not eliminate any potentially harmful gases from reaching and causing inflammatory reactions in your airways and lungs.

Bottom Line: Wildfires are likely to become more common in Canada and when they occur near you, the quality of the air you breathe can deteriorate and create significant health problems, especially for people who are considered at risk. When you are trying to decide if it is safe to exercise outside, have a look at your local Air Quality Health Index and then refer to the recommendations outlined in the activity guidance. For more information on this important topic, please see the following link: Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health.

Dr. Darrell Menard OMM MD, Dip Sport Med

Dr. Menard is the Surgeon General’s specialist advisor in sports medicine and has worked extensively with athletes from multiple sports. As part of the Strengthening the Forces team he works on injury prevention and promoting active living.

Strengthening the Forces is CAF/DND’s health promotion program providing expert information, skills and tools for promoting and improving CAF members’ health and well-being.