The forest fires have led to a crisis not only environmentally, but also in the health of those affected. It's not just the dangers of flames; Accidents seriously affect cardiovascular health, exacerbating existing conditions and causing inhalation poisoning, burns and eye problems.

In this sense, cardiologist Pablo Perel, main advisor of the World Heart Federation, told EFE Health that the smoke from fires contains microscopic particles PM2.5 and PM10 that can affect the respiratory tract and cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The increase in poisoning due to smoke inhalation, burns and eye conditions due to suspended particles are some of the immediate consequences of large fires.

Smoke causes inflammation and oxidative stress, altering the functioning of the cardiovascular system and raising blood pressure, which can result in serious conditions. Warning symptoms are crucial to identify cardiovascular problems in exposed people.

Warning and prevention symptoms

Symptoms of shortness of breath or chest pain are key indicators to seek medical attention. Authorities recommend protective measures, such as staying indoors and wearing appropriate masks to mitigate exposure to smoke.

Air pollution, exacerbated by fires, is responsible for a high percentage of deaths worldwide from cardiovascular diseases. The World Heart Organization highlights that a third of deaths from non-communicable diseases are attributed to this problem, making it clear that air quality is a critical factor in public health.

“Recent studies suggest that fires that reach buildings or burn plastics, paints, fuels and other artificial materials can produce more toxic smoke than those that only affect vegetation,” the cardiologist told the Spanish media.

How to evaluate air quality

Air quality in areas affected by forest fires is evaluated by combining measurements at monitoring stations, reading the air quality index (AQI) and observing key pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10 and ozone. In these episodes, the smoke usually raises, above all, fine PM2.5 particles, which are the most dangerous to health.

What to measure. The most useful pollutants to evaluate the impact of smoke are PM2.5, PM10, tropospheric ozone, NO2 and SO2. The ICA summarizes this data into risk categories, from good quality to very unfavorable or extreme levels.

How to interpret it. If the AQI falls into unfavorable or very unfavorable ranges, exposure can be risky, especially for children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart disease. In recent events, strong increases in PM2.5 and PM10 have been reported near fires, along with elevated ozone episodes.

Where to consult it. You can check maps and official monitoring networks in real time to see if a specific area is affected by smoke. An example is AirNow's smoke and fine particulate matter map, which shows PM2.5 from fires and other sources.

Practical signs. In addition to instrumental data, reduced visibility, grayish skies and the smell of smoke are very helpful, because they tend to coincide with high concentrations of pollutants. Still, the main reference should be the official measurement, not just the appearance of the air.

Basic protection. If the air is degraded, it is advisable to stay indoors, close windows and doors, use filtration if available, and reduce outdoor physical activity. If you have to go out, a well-fitting N95 or FFP2 mask offers better protection against fine particles.

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