Top Highlights

• When we talk about air quality, we often talk about PM2.5. That’s particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller – small enough that it can travel deep into the lungs.
• But the term PM2.5 only tells you about size, not composition – what is burning can make a significant difference in the chemistry.
• Smoke from wildfires in Canada was detected across a large part of the U.S. on June 7, 2023. Dark purple dots indicate hazardous air quality. Light purple indicates very unhealthy air; red is unhealthy; orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups; and yellow indicates moderate risk.
• In the northern Rockies, where I live, most fires are fueled by vegetation, but not all vegetation is the same
• Chemists often talk about volatile organic compounds, (VOCs), carbon monoxide and PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced when biomass and other matter burns having the potential to harm human health.

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