Wildfire smoke and pollution levels

Wildfires can significantly increase air pollution levels. Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases, particles, and water vapour that contains:

• ozone
• sulphur dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• carbon monoxide
• volatile organic compounds
• fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

These pollutants can harm your health, with PM2.5 posing the greatest risk. There is no evidence of a safe level of exposure for most of these pollutants. This means that smoke can impact your health even at very low levels. As smoke levels increase, your health risks increase. Air quality may be decreased even if you can't see or smell smoke.

Symptoms of smoke […]

This content is for Markel policy holders.

Register