Oregon Health Authority has updated its guidance to help families, schools, sports programs, and other youth organizations decide when it is safe for children to be active outside when there is wildfire smoke or other air pollution.
The new Oregon Air Quality Guide for Children and Youth, which is based on the air quality index, shows growing scientific evidence that wildfire smoke can affect children’s health at lower levels than we used to think.
Children and teens are more sensitive to smoke because their bodies are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Smoke contains tiny particles called PM2.5 that can get deep into the lungs and move through the bloodstream, which can affect many parts of the body.
“We fully recognize the importance of outdoor time and exercise for the physical and mental health of children and youth,” said Gabriela Goldfarb, manager of the Environmental Public Health Section at OHA’s Public Health Division. She adds that the guide helps adults balance those benefits with the fact that children face greater health risks from smoke.
Key updates include:
- Moderate AQI (yellow, 51–100): Families and organizations should be careful with children who have health conditions during activities lasting up to four hours. All youth should be cautious during activities lasting four hours or more.
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange, 101–150): OHA recommends that all youth limit how hard they exercise. If the activity can’t be shortened or made easier, consider canceling or moving it.
- Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, or Hazardous (red, purple, and maroon, over 150): Cancel outdoor activities for all youth or move them to a place with cleaner air.
- Medium-length activities are now defined as one to four hours.
- The guide highlights that exposure also occurs during transit, such as walking or riding in vehicles with open windows.
- “Infants” was removed from the title, but the guidance still applies to all individuals younger than 18.
OHA is committed to protecting the health of Oregon’s youth. By using this guidance, families, schools, and other programs can make informed choices to keep youth safe and support their ability to learn, play, and grow.
Additional wildfire smoke and health resources are available at healthoregon.org/wildfires.
The guide is also available in Spanish.