NEW JERSEY— As smoke from Canadian wildfires pushed air quality across New Jersey into unhealthy and, in some communities, very unhealthy levels Thursday, one expert offered a comparison many people can understand:
Spending a full day outdoors when the Air Quality Index climbs above 150 can expose someone to fine-particle pollution roughly comparable to smoking seven to nine cigarettes.
The comparison, made by Dr. Jonathan M. Tan, division chief of General Anesthesiology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, refers to exposure to PM2.5 — the microscopic particles in wildfire smoke that can travel deep into the lungs.
Tan told AccuWeather the analogy is an imperfect, but useful way to help people understand the health risks of smoky air.
Air quality is expected to improve after winds shift Friday evening, with forecasts calling for smoke to gradually move out of the region and conditions to improve into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index climbed well into the Unhealthy range Thursday, with readings above 150 reported across much of the state.
By Thursday evening, many communities in northern and central New Jersey reached the Very Unhealthy category, with index values exceeding 200 in places including Trenton, Elizabeth, Rahway, New Brunswick and Chester.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection warned that everyone could experience health effects and advised residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially during the evening hours.
Health experts said the greatest risk comes from tiny PM2.5 particles in wildfire smoke.
Those microscopic particles can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of breathing problems, worsening asthma and other chronic lung diseases, and contributing to longer-term health concerns with repeated exposure.
For many New Jersey residents, the question is simple: How worried should they be, and what should they do now?
Dr. Eric Ascher, a family medicine physician at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital, told Patch the current conditions are manageable for many healthy people, but those with underlying health conditions should take extra care.
“Anybody with a chronic lung condition like asthma or COPD or somebody on a medication that would make it more difficult to breathe should be mindful,” Ascher said.
The combination of extreme heat and wildfire smoke creates greater health risks than either hazard alone, added Dr. Neal Shipley, medical director of Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care.
“Heat and wildfire smoke don't just add up, they compound each other's effects on the body,” Shipley said. “High heat already puts stress on the cardiovascular system, forcing the heart to work harder to keep the body cool. When smoke particles are in the air at the same time, that adds strain on the lungs too.”
Shipley said children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor workers and people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart disease face the highest risks during poor air quality days.
Dr. Neelima Tummala, an otolaryngologist at NYU Langone Health, said wildfire smoke affects everyone because everyone breathes the polluted air.
“When people breathe in this polluted air, whether you have something like asthma or not, it's still going to affect the nose,” Tummala said.
The smoke can irritate the nose, throat and lungs, causing congestion, throat discomfort and inflammation.
Not every reaction to wildfire smoke requires medical attention.
Watery eyes, mild throat irritation and nasal congestion are common effects of exposure, Ascher said.
The warning signs are more serious breathing problems.
People should watch for:
“If there's any sort of dizziness,” Ascher said, “that's when you know we start to worry about this.”
Shipley said residents should not ignore symptoms that go beyond irritation.
“The big ones are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, and feeling unusually tired or run down,” Shipley said.
People experiencing severe breathing problems or chest pain should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Those with asthma or other chronic lung disease who notice worsening symptoms should contact a health care provider promptly.
Wildfire smoke can resemble seasonal allergies because both can cause watery eyes, congestion and throat irritation.
But breathing issues are often the difference.
“If you feel as though you're somebody who suffers normally from seasonal allergies and this doesn't feel like that would feel, then I would say it's likely the wildfires,” Ascher said.
Shipley said timing also offers an important clue.
“If it's hazy out, there's an air quality advisory, and your symptoms started or got worse specifically on a smoke day, that's probably what's going on,” Shipley said.
He said allergies typically do not cause worsening cough, chest tightness or significant shortness of breath.
Health experts said reducing exposure remains the best protection.
If outdoor activity is unavoidable, a properly fitted N95, KN95 or P100 mask can help filter harmful wildfire smoke particles.
“Other masks like cloth masks and surgical masks are not going to be helpful against the air pollutants,” Tummala said.
Shipley said residents should also keep windows and doors closed, run air conditioners on recirculation mode and use HEPA air purifiers when possible.
Experts recommend:
Short-term exposure usually causes temporary irritation, but repeated smoke events raise broader health concerns.
Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
Research has linked long-term exposure to air pollution with increased risks for heart disease, pregnancy complications and reduced lung development in children.
Tummala said the particles can affect more than the respiratory system.
“There's the short-term complications,” Tummala said. “There's the long-term concerns.”
Shipley said researchers are also studying the effects of repeated wildfire smoke exposure over multiple summers.
“Research shows that people who go through repeated heavy smoke exposure over several weeks can see reduced lung function that sticks around for years,” Shipley said. “It's that repeated exposure, not just one really bad day, that's starting to worry researchers when it comes to long-term lung and heart health.”
Tummala said wildfire smoke events are becoming more frequent as climate change contributes to longer and more severe wildfire seasons.
She said rising temperatures also increase ground-level ozone, another pollutant that can worsen respiratory health.
“With the planet getting warmer due to climate change, this is worsening wildfire season,” Tummala said.
Officials continue to urge residents to monitor air quality forecasts, limit outdoor activity during smoke events and seek medical care if symptoms become severe.
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