How harmful is poor air quality? (high Air Quality Index score)

[Vileplume]

Where I live in a forested area in California, US, every year seems to bring more frequent fires. With these fires comes visibly smoky air and a high AQI (air quality index) score. The local weather apps indicate PM 2.5 as the predominant pollutant in the air, and the current AQI is 278, considered “very dangerous” by the weather app. Anything over 100 is considered “dangerous.”

Just how harmful is PM2.5, especially when the air quality index score gets higher and higher? How much exposure would it take to develop serious effects from this?

 

[cout12]

not sure but you can get an air filter with pm2 monitor and bring it to safe levels while you're inside.

 

[BearWithMe]

I did quite a bit of research on this topic recently and it seems that the actual effect of air polution on lifespans and health outcomes is marginal at best.

That, and also forest fires would be the least damaging kind of air polution.

Sadly, forest fires are a tragedy for the nature, but not an immediate thread to human health.