Publication: N.Y. Magazine

UCLA Expert: Reza Ronaghi: Critical Care Physician, UCLA Health; Clinical Instructor of Medicine, UCLA Health

Synopsis: As wildfires in Quebec continue to burn and stormy weather off the coast of Nova Scotia forces smoke south into the United States, millions of people on the East Coast and beyond — from Syracuse all the way to the Carolinas and as far west as Ohio — are being exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution.

UCLA News: Make sure your doors and windows are closed tightly — Ronaghi advises sealing any gaps or cracks with old clothing or duct tape — and consider using an air purifier with HEPA filters to reduce the concentration of harmful smoke particles. According to Kraft, even a well-functioning air conditioner with clean filters can help circulate clean air in your home. It may seem counterintuitive, but Ronaghi says to avoid vacuuming or dusting during this time as you may disrupt settled air particles, causing them to become airborne again.

Read more at N.Y. Magazine.