The persistent haze of smoke from the wildfires burning around the Northwest has led many people to wear face masks to protect their lungs. But health officials say many of those masks aren鈥檛 doing what the wearers think they are.
As the days of thick, smoky air drag on, you鈥檙e seeing more people wearing those little paper masks you can get at the hardware store. Dr. Jim Shames has seen them, too. But, he says, while those masks may filter out some of the ash that鈥檚 floating around 鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not doing anything for what we feel are the particles that cause the major health problems,鈥� he says.
Shames is the Medical Director for Jackson County Health and Human Services. The particles he鈥檚 most concerned about are the microscopic ones, less than two-and-a-half microns wide.
鈥淭hey drift all the way down into your alveoli, the smallest airways in your lungs," he says. "And that鈥檚 where they cause the irritation, that鈥檚 where they stimulate asthma, they put more stress on the heart and the lungs.鈥�
Shames says long exposure to these tiny particles may also cause permanent damage.
You can get respirators that will filter out particles that small 鈥� they鈥檙e rated as NIOSH-95 or NIOSH -100 -- but they鈥檙e tricky to fit properly and if you鈥檝e got facial hair, they won鈥檛 make a good seal at all.
Shames says it鈥檚 best to avoid going outdoors when the air is unhealthy, especially for children, elders and folks with respiratory problems. If you must go out, he says, get the appropriate respirator and learn how to use it effectively.
