Bushfire smoke and your health

Bushfire smoke can reduce air quality in rural and urban areas and may affect people’s health.

This page provides information on bushfire smoke, how it can affect you and your family’s health, and actions that you can take to avoid or reduce potential health effects.

What is bushfire smoke?

Bushfire smoke is a mixture of different-sized particles, water vapour and gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

The larger particles which are visible to the eye contribute to the visible haze when a fire is burning. They are generally too large to breathe deeply into the lungs but can irritate the nose and throat.

Finer microscopic particles and gases are small enough to breathe deep into the lungs and can cause adverse health effects.

How can bushfire smoke affect my health?

How smoke affects you depends on your age, pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, and the length of time you are exposed to the smoke.

Signs of smoke irritation include itchy eyes, sore throat, runny nose and coughing. Healthy adults usually find that after a short exposure to smoke, these symptoms clear up once they are away from the smoke.

Children, the elderly, pregnant people, smokers and people with pre-existing illnesses such as heart or lung conditions (including asthma) are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in fine particles. Symptoms may worsen and include wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.

It is very important that people with pre-existing health conditions take their medication, follow their treatment plan, and seek immediate medical advice if symptoms persist.

Protecting your health

• Avoid physical activity outdoors (exercise allows more fine particles to be breathed deeper into the lungs). In particular, people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions should rest as much as possible and keep away from the smoke.
• Anyone with a heart or lung condition should follow the treatment plan advised by their doctor and keep at least five days supply of medication on hand.
• People with asthma should follow their personal asthma plan.
• When smoke is in the air, but a fire is not directly threatening you, stay indoors and close all windows and doors.
• If you operate an air conditioner during smoky conditions, switch it to ‘recycle’ or ‘recirculate’ to reduce smoke coming inside your home.
• If you do not have an air conditioner, take steps to reduce heat stress, especially for the very young, people who are unwell, or the elderly.
• If your home gets too hot to be comfortable, or if it is letting in outside air, try to take an air-conditioned break at a local community library or shopping centre.
• If there is a break in smoky conditions, take the opportunity to air out your home to improve indoor air quality.
• When indoors, minimise other sources of air pollution, such as cigarette smoke, burning candles, using un-flued gas appliances or woodstoves, or stirring up fine dust from sweeping or vacuuming.
• Help your vulnerable family members, neighbours and friends. It is important to identify locations that have cleaner, filtered air-conditioned spaces (e.g. shopping centres, community centres, libraries etc).
• During extended, very smoky conditions, sensitive individuals should consider temporarily staying with a friend or relative living outside the smoke-affected area. Outdoor sporting events may also be postponed by event organisers.
• Stay up to date with local news reports.