Is the air quality a risk to my health? Here's what you need to know and what you can do

You probably noticed the reddish hue the sunrise cascaded through your windows this morning. What about the scratchy throat and watering eyes you seemed to develop overnight?

It's not allergies or illness, it's pollution irritating your lungs.

Because of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and now the Jackson wildfire, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has been issuing both orange and red air quality alerts throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties, meaning that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups: children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly.

But the risks of contaminated air quality affect everyone.

“For vulnerable people with asthma, chronic lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis or even comorbid issues like underlying heart disease, the risks are definitely greater,” said Pulmonologist Eric Costanzo, chief of Critical Care at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “But there are also risks in healthy individuals.

Battle continues: ‘Homes, lives were at risk’: Firefighters battle Jackson wildfire, some houses threatened

Stay inside: When is the air quality going to get better? New Jersey air quality suffers after wildfire

"The problem with wildfires is the particular matter (known as PM 2.5) is so small it can get deep into the lung tissue with just simple breathing, which can cause a cascade of events that lead to inflammation, like shortness of breath, cough or watering eyes."

These effects can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising outdoors, filtering indoor air through air conditioning, air purifiers, HEPA filters or circulating it with fans. Also reduce air quality hazards, like smoking indoors, using non-electric stoves or furnaces, spraying aerosol products, or vacuuming without a HEPA filter.

Those affected may feel inflammation or dryness, so it's important to stay hydrated to flush out potential particulate matter, and use skin moisturizer.

"Adhere to common sense principles," Costanzo said. "If you’re outside and smell smoke or your eyes are watering, in response to smoke and particulate matter causing irritation in your airway, stay indoors when you can."

When you do have to venture outside, continue to check the Air Quality Index for recent updates, and be sure to wear an N95 or KN95 mask. When in the car, use the recirculate feature instead of opening windows or vents.

“We have to listen to our bodies and pay attention to our surroundings," he said. " … For example, I’m looking out the window of Jersey Shore Medical Center [today] and I can’t really see the water tower by Shark River, when I usually can. You have to listen to your surroundings, as hard as it is because it’s summer and it’s fun [at] the Jersey Shore, but if the air quality isn’t where it needs to be, you need to stay inside.”

Following these minor precautions will help, he said.

“If you exercise a certain degree of caution and common sense, there won’t be any concern for long term damage," he said.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center has not seen an uptick of air quality-effected patients as of yet, but doctors are waiting to see over the course of the day, as air quality plummets.

"We have been limiting outdoor exposure for our vulnerable patients and transitioning to tele-med visits," Costanzo said. "I think this next 24 hours are going to be crucial in determining which way we're going.

"We're down the shore here, with [changing] winds, so it's a very fluid situation."

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

Parts of this story were previously published.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore air quality means health risks, stay indoors