Few Australians will forget the events of 2019-20, when the Black Summer blazes caused thick bushfire smoke to envelope entire cities in a distinctive haze, turning skies orange across the country.
The fires burned across six states over six months1 and were devastating in more ways than one. They taught us a few things too – including the importance of being prepared and just how far from a fire front bushfire smoke can impact air quality.2
Smoke from the fires didn’t just smell unpleasant – 80% of the Australian population was affected by it,1 and bushfire smoke is estimated to have contributed to hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospital admissions due to heart and lung health issues.3
Driven by the events of that period, a research team from The University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute developed a world-first platform to understand how bushfire smoke is linked to heart and lung issues.4
The research shows there was a large increase in people experiencing respiratory symptoms during Black Summer, and that both short- and long-term exposure to bushfire smoke can affect lung health. Even small quantities of smoke can cause problems for some people.4
Why does bushfire smoke impact lung health?
Like other forms of air pollution, bushfire smoke contains gases and solid particles, some of which are too small to see and, when breathed in, can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream.5
“Fine particle pollution, which are so small they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, can reach extremely high concentrations during events such as bushfires,” says Paige Preston, General Manager Policy Advocacy and Prevention at Lung Foundation Australia.
“It can suspend in the air and travel in the wind over long distances, making air pollution from bushfire smoke a major public health concern,” says Paige.
A Lung Foundation Australia survey conducted at the end of 2023 on the impacts of air pollution on people living with a lung disease found that respondents identified smoke from planned and unplanned bushfires as the air pollutant with the greatest effect on their lung health.6
Is your lung health at risk from bushfire smoke?
Your vulnerability to bushfire smoke can depend on a number of things, including your age, whether you have a pre-existing medical condition – such as asthma or heart disease – and how long you’re exposed to the smoke.7
While brief exposure to bushfire smoke may trigger mild symptoms, such as itchy eyes, a sore throat, a runny nose and coughing, some people are more sensitive to its effects.7
This includes children, adults over 65 and pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as people living with diabetes or existing heart or lung conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema.8
“One in three Australians has a lung disease, and evidence has shown that air pollution plays an important role in the onset and exacerbation of their symptoms,” says Paige.
As well as making symptoms worse,7 research shows that breathing in the fine particles that bushfire smoke contains may also make the medications used to treat asthma less effective.4
Are there long-term risks of exposure to bushfire smoke for lung health?
According to a 2022 Australian summary report on bushfire smoke and health, the effects of the smoke are typically short term, and the risk of illness falls as air quality improves.5
Some research conducted in Northern California suggests that extended periods of exposure to bushfire smoke can trigger inflammatory changes – even in otherwise healthy people – which may increase their risk of developing lung health problems, including lung disease.9
However, according to the Australian Government Environmental Health Standing Committee summary of evidence, any potential increased long-term risk after a period of exposure is likely to be low for most people – although research is ongoing.5
How to protect yourself from bushfire smoke
Lung health support involves taking a few key precautions if there’s bushfire smoke around.10 Here’s what you can consider doing to help look after your respiratory system when there’s smoke in the air.
Monitor the air quality
Air quality refers to how clean and free of pollution the air is,11 and is measured and defined in five categories – “Good”, “Fair”, “Poor”, “Very Poor” or “Extremely poor”.12
Keeping an eye on your location’s air quality can help you understand the level of bushfire smoke that’s in your area13 and if it’s safe to be outdoors, depending on whether you’re sensitive to smoke or living with a lung disease such as asthma.14
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) includes information about smoke haze in its forecasts when it’s expected to be substantial. The BoM also links to various state and territory sources that provide bushfire smoke alerts and health information.13
Paige also suggests monitoring your local air quality using the AirRater phone app. Developed by the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research, the app uses data from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) smoke forecasting system.15
Minimise smoke inside your home
“When air pollution is poor outside, it’s vital to create a safe environment inside,” says Paige. “You can do this by closing your doors and windows to help protect you during short periods of outdoor smoke and consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter.” High efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters can help to remove bushfire smoke from indoor air.10
Other tips include switching your air conditioner to “recirculate” and avoiding the use of evaporative coolers, which work by bringing outdoor air inside.10
Reduce your time outdoors
You might want to spend more time indoors and avoid outdoor activities as much as you can.10 “To avoid smoke, you could also think about visiting a place with cleaner air like a library or a shopping centre,” says Paige.
Consider wearing a mask
“Wear a P2/N95 mask both outdoors and indoors to help filter out air pollution and protect your lungs,” says Paige. Bear in mind that surgical and cloth masks don’t protect against smoke.10
Exercise caution if you have a lung condition
“Follow your health plan and monitor your symptoms so that you can respond to worsening symptoms early on,” says Paige, who also suggests talking to your GP if you have a lung condition such as asthma and you don’t have an action plan in place.
“Ensure you have a supply of your commonly used medicines and medical devices handy and that they are in date. Call Triple Zero if you or anyone in your care is having difficulty breathing, chest tightness or another medical emergency.”
For more tips on being emotionally prepared for bushfire season and how to create a bushfire survival plan, visit our you.prepared emergency content hub.
The content in this article has been prepared based on current government and emergency services guidelines and expert advice provided at the time of publishing. This information is subject to change. Please be sure to check for the latest information and always consider your personal circumstances regarding bushfire preparedness and response.
Where you have increased your cover or reduced your excess within 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of a flood, storm, hail or bushfire occurring, cover will be limited to the amount that was effective prior to the change. Loss, damage or legal liability caused by, resulting or arising from flood, storm, hail or bushfire during the first 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of your policy first being purchased is excluded unless certain conditions apply. Refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for full T&Cs.
1 Source: The Guardian – Australia’s summer bushfire smoke killed 445 and put thousands in hospital, inquiry hears, May 2020
2 Source: Australian Government – Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report, October 2020
3 Source: NSW Government – Inquiry Into Health Impacts of Exposure to Poor Levels of Air Quality Resulting From Bushfires and Drought Supplementary Submission, June 2020
4 Source: The University of Newcastle – World-first platform to help understand how bushfire smoke harms the lungs and heart, April 2024
5 Source: Australian Government Environmental Health Standing Committee – Bushfire smoke and health: Summary of current evidence, July 2022
6 Source: Lung Foundation Australia – The impact of climate change and air pollution on those living with lung disease or lung cancer: a community survey 2023, December 2023
7 Source: Qld Government – Bushfire smoke and your health, November 2023
8 Source: SA Health – Bushfire smoke and your health
9 Source: University of California Davis Health – Wildfire smoke increase inflammation, lung disease risk, June 2023
10 Source: NSW Health – Protect yourself from bushfire smoke
11 Source: NSW Government – Air quality basics, July 2024
12 Source: NSW Government – About the air quality categories, July 2024
13 Source: Bureau of Meteorology – Smoke and air quality information
14 Source: NSW Government Air Quality – Health advice
15 Source: CSIRO – Bushfire close? Breathe easy with the AirRater app, May 2022
