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Wildfires' soot, smoke raise health concernsLimit time spent outdoors, doctors warn
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The wildfire smoke that has left millions in Southern California with scratchy throats and burning eyes poses an even bigger health threat to the young, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung problems, officials said Monday. Anyone who can see, taste or smell smoke should curtail outdoor activity, officials warned. But people with heart disease, lung disease or asthma should avoid the outdoors entirely, as should children and the elderly, said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, public health officer for Los Angeles County. "It's good advice for everybody today not to do too much outdoor vigorous activity," Fielding said. Schools were urged to limit outdoor sports. Smoke contains hundreds of natural chemicals, including formaldehyde, and gases such as carbon monoxide. It is also packed with microscopic particles that are easily inhaled into the lungs, where they can become permanently lodged. Prolonged exposure to particulate pollution has been linked to slowed lung growth. Health officials were uncertain about the long-term effects of the smoke. It was also unclear whether it would contribute to a short-term rise in deaths, Fielding said. "We'll look to see if there's any spike associated with this period. My hope and expectation is there won't be -- unless this goes significantly longer," he said. The fires and the stress of evacuations have already been linked to at least 13 deaths. However, St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, where the air was thick with smoke, reported no immediate increase in patients complaining of smoke-related problems. "You can see the ash and stuff on the ground and just think all that is in the air, getting in your eyes and nose and mouth," said Vicki Dawes, a 59-year-old resident of a San Bernardino neighborhood where flames had destroyed 200 homes. Airborne particulate levels in the San Bernardino area were forecast to hit 300 micrograms per cubic meter of air Monday. Farther south, in Escondido, particulate levels were at 90 micrograms. Levels between 40 and 65 are considered unhealthy, San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox said. "So you can see the magnitude of what we are talking about," Cox said. At San Diego's airport, Lindbergh Field, workers wore masks as protection from the smoke. "I'll probably try to spend most of the day inside," said Livia Guerrero, an airport security worker. "I really wanted to stay home." Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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