Wildfire Smoke: Protecting Your Health in an Era of Increasing Fire Activity

By Dr. Jacqueline Chan, D.O. June 9th, 2026 AI assisted

Our firefighter contacts are already telling us to prepare for what's coming across California this year — and we believe them.

The Santa Rosa Fire Department officially declared June 1st the first day of fire season here in Sonoma County. With increasing wildfire activity across the United States and Canada, wildfire smoke is becoming a growing public health threat as it blankets entire regions with toxic particulate pollution.

Since 2000, growing wildfire pollution has reversed many of the air quality gains achieved through the Clean Air Act. Over the coming decades, wildfire smoke is expected to become the nation's leading source of particulate air pollution. According to emerging research, wildfire smoke may be among the most toxic forms of particulate pollution we encounter (PMID: 33674571).

The health consequences are becoming increasingly clear. A 2024 study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference found that exposure to PM2.5 particles from wildfire smoke was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing dementia. Researchers reported that the risk associated with wildfire-derived PM2.5 was notably stronger, even with lower levels of exposure, than the risk posed by PM2.5 from other pollution sources. On poor air quality days in California, wildfire smoke now accounts for more than 70% of total PM2.5 exposure.

This is a real problem.

While fire poses the greatest immediate danger for many communities, millions more are affected by the smoke. Wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs while significantly increasing the risk of bronchitis, asthma attacks, heart failure, stroke, and premature death.

Children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are particularly vulnerable. Individuals with Long COVID, asthma, COPD, autoimmune conditions, or other chronic illnesses may also experience heightened sensitivity to smoke exposure.

What many people don't realize is that wildfire smoke is much more than burned trees. Modern wildfire smoke often contains particulate matter, toxic gases, heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, plastics, and "forever chemicals" released from burned homes, vehicles, and infrastructure.

Potential Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke

Acute Effects

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Coughing and shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Worsening allergies
• Asthma exacerbations
• Increased cardiovascular stress
• Increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations

Long-Term Effects

• Increased risk of respiratory disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Immune dysregulation
• Neurological conditions
• Developmental concerns in children
• Reproductive health concerns
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Elevated cancer risk

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

Monitor Air Quality

Stay informed about local air quality conditions:

• AirNow App and Map (EPA)
• PurpleAir community monitoring network

During Smoke Events

• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
• Avoid exercising outdoors.
• Do not use fireplaces, wood stoves, gas stoves, or vacuum cleaners when possible, as they can worsen indoor air quality.
• If you have central air conditioning, run it on recirculate mode and use a MERV-13 or higher filter.
• Use HEPA air purifiers in bedrooms and main living spaces.
• Consider a low-cost DIY box-fan filter system.
• Wear a properly fitted N95 respirator when outdoors.

Clean Water Matters Too

Following major fire events, contaminants can affect water systems. Consider:

• Filtering drinking and cooking water.
• Using a reverse osmosis filtration system when possible.
• Testing water quality if contamination is suspected.
• Installing shower filters in heavily affected areas.

Nutritional Strategies to Support Resilience

Nutrition plays an important role in helping the body manage oxidative stress and inflammation associated with smoke exposure.

Focus on:

• An organic Mediterranean-style diet
• A rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables
• Foods rich in carotenoids
• Broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables
• Onions and garlic
• Berries
• Green tea (up to 3 cups daily as tolerated)
• High-quality omega-3 fatty acids

Targeted Supplement Support

Adapted from Dr. Lyn Patrick's Wildfire Smoke Action Plan:

• Vitamin C: 1,000 mg three times daily
• Vitamin E: Up to 800 IU daily
• Sulforaphane: 30–50 mg daily
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): 1,800 mg daily
• Glutathione: 500 mg daily
• Curcumin: Follow product-specific dosing (typically 2–4 capsules daily)
• Quercetin: 500 mg twice daily
• Resveratrol: 450 mg daily
• B-Complex: One capsule each morning
• EPA/DHA Omega-3s: 1.6 grams combined daily

Here is a link to order your supplements: https://us.fullscript.com/plans/naturalpharmacy-wildfire-smoke-protection

One of the Most Effective Tools: Clean Indoor Air

The good news is that one of the most powerful interventions is also one of the simplest: improving indoor air quality.

A high-quality HEPA air purifier can dramatically reduce indoor particulate exposure. AirDoctor air purifiers are designed to capture airborne particles as small as 0.003 microns, including the ultrafine particles found in wildfire smoke.

As wildfire season approaches, now is the time to prepare rather than react.

A small investment in prevention today may help protect your lungs, heart, brain, and overall health throughout the months ahead.

Stay safe, stay informed, and breathe clean.