Fire officials on Monday warned that air quality immediate surrounding a five-alarm fire at a car wrecking lot in northeast Portland could continue to worsen even as smoke clears, while health officials warn that this smoke is worse than wood smoke.
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Todd Hudson, a public health toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority, said the gases and fine particles in smoke can irritate people’s eyes and respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
But “black smoke” fires from sources such as auto salvage yards or tires can have more of that fine particulate and toxic chemicals, including asbestos, aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins.
Smoke from burning tires or plastic material can include toxic chemicals of synthetic rubber compounds. Each tire contains about two gallons of petroleum products similar to heating oil.
These sort of fires can be particularly irritating because the smoke can contain large amounts of sulfur dioxide, which can irritate a person’s lungs even at low concentrations.
The acute health effects of that result from exposure to these types of fires include eye, nose and throat irritation, exacerbation of asthma and respiratory conditions and potential exacerbation of pre-existing heart disease. The most serious health impacts from exposure to tire fire smoke appears to be effects on those with preexisting cardiovascular disease or respiratory conditions such as asthma.
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The Oregon Health Authority suggests residents downwind of the blaze close windows and doors and set air-conditioning to recirculate. Health officials also recommend reducing other sources of indoor smoke and dust. This includes avoiding running the furnace or vacuum, burning cigarettes or candles, or using gas, propane or wood burning stoves.
