Staying safe in smoky air is particularly important for some people. Here's how

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/09/ [login to see] /staying-safe-in-smoky-air-is-particularly-important-for-some-people-heres-how
While a thick yellow haze has blanketed much of the Eastern U.S. this week, some of the poorest air quality in the world has been in New York City. Pulmonologist Dr. Ravi Kalhan, of Northwestern Medicine likened it to New Yorkers smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

The health hazards of long-term smoking are well understood, but what are the dangers of short-term exposure to wildfire smoke — like the smoke that is still drifting south from Canada's wildfires?

"I think that everyone has some degree of risk when air pollution levels are to this extent," says Dr. Keith Brenner a pulmonary and critical care doctor at Hackensack University Medical Center.

But it's people with preexisting lung conditions like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) who are most at risk.