When you come out, you will notice what looks like a fog blanketing your community in Chicago and its metropolitan space. This is the result of massive, raging wildfires burning across northeastern Minnesota and Canada, which have sent dense, toxic plumes of smoke drifting directly into the Great Lakes region.
This heavy, acrid shroud is not a natural morning mist, but rather a hazardous canopy of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, that has traveled hundreds of miles to settle over our neighborhoods, from the high-rises of downtown to the quietest suburban streets. These microscopic, invisible soot particles bypass your body’s natural respiratory defenses, traveling deep into your lungs and entering your bloodstream, where they can cause severe inflammation and strain.
To protect your health, keeping your windows and doors tightly sealed is essential, and running your air conditioning on recirculate will prevent this dirty air from entering your home. Utilizing HEPA filters or DIY box fan purifiers will help clean your indoor air, while avoiding strenuous outdoor activities and wearing a tightly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator, if you must go outside, will safeguard your lungs from this drifting environmental threat.
