Wildfire smoke is like smoking 'half a pack a day.' Here's how to protect yourself

Your Health Wildfire smoke is like smoking 'half a pack a day.' Here's how to protect yourself July 17, 202611:24 AM ET By  Alejandra Borunda ,  Julia Simon People wear masks in Chicago on Thursday to protect themselves from smoke from Canadian wildfires. City officials are encouraging people to remain inside as data shows Chicago having some of the worst air quality of any large city in the world. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images A version of this story was originally published on Jan. 8, 2025. It has been updated to reflect the wildfires currently bringing smoke to the U.S. Smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota prompted more air quality alerts Friday in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S., as well as in the Upper Midwest. Michigan saw a statewide air quality advisory on Wednesday, and Minnesota's air quality reached the hazardous "purple" alert level. The wildfire smoke is setting records in Wisconsin and turning skies orange in Vermont. And after a brief respite Friday morning, New York City will see more smoke. Sponsor Message Climate Farmworkers feed the country, but who protects them from wildfire smoke? Exposure to wildfire smoke is a growing health problem across the country, as human-caused climate change increases the risk and intensity of wildfires and the smoke that can drift thousands of miles downwind from them. Here's what you need to know about the health risks — and how to protect yourself. The health risks of breathing wildfire smoke May-Lin Wilgus, a pulmonologist and professor at UCLA, compares breathing wildfire smoke to smoking cigarettes — a lot of cigarettes. Scientists track air quality with the air quality index, or AQI, which incorporates different pollution sources like ozone and fine particulates. Many scientists don't think there's a "safe" AQI level because the measurement doesn't capture many harmful pollutants, but under 50 is often considered acceptable. Higher numbers in...