Salt Lake Tribune Voices: It’s time to rethink our messaging around wildfire smoke and air quality
A recent opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune echoes a few points UPHE has been warning about for a long time time now. One being that the air quality index isn’t always a reliable measure of how safe the air is outside. Another being about the dangers of wood smoke.
In her piece, Brenna Kelly, Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences from the University of Utah, writes “During wildfire season, most of us don’t need to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) in our weather app — when there’s smoke in the air, it’s obvious. The air is thick with that familiar “campfire” smell, and it permeates our indoor spaces as well as our outdoor environment.
“If you did happen to check the AQI Tuesday morning, you might have been surprised to see the AQI was “moderate” (between 51 and 100). This means the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers the air quality to be acceptable and safe for outdoor activities — even sensitive groups can exercise outside, as long as they avoid heavy exertion. But there is something fundamentally misleading about the AQI’s public health messaging when wildfire smoke is present.
“Short-term consequences of wildfire smoke exposure may include more emergency room visits and hospitalizations for respiratory conditions. During pregnancy, exposure may increase risk of preterm birth later on, regardless of how far along you are. Exposure can cause inflammation and reduce lung function, and these effects may be long-lasting even in healthy adults. Children, older adults, people with chronic diseases, and pregnant folks are considered particularly sensitive to the health effects of wildfire smoke.
“On days like today, we are sending the wrong message — to sensitive groups, as well as the general population.
“As we begin the 2026 wildfire season, we should rethink our public health messaging. The AQI is valued for its simplicity, but wildfire smoke days may need to carry an additional warning, such as a flag indicating the presence of smoke.”
UPHE’s resources on wildfire smoke: