A pulmonologist from Valencia has noted that the use of face masks in Santa Clarita has helped prevent residents from developing serious respiratory issues due to the unhealthy air quality in the valley after various wildfires began breaking out over a month ago.

Other than some low clouds still hanging on to the edge of the Central Coast early this afternoon, much of #SoCal is just dealing with wildfire smoke. The good news is that the smoke layer is starting to thin and will likely continue to clear up in the coming days! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/ccIi2C0xOh

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 16, 2020

Since Aug. 3, air quality within the Santa Clarita has remained relatively unhealthy, ranging from being unhealthy for “sensitive individuals,” to “very unhealthy” for all individuals, according to officials with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Dr. Charanjit Saroa, a pulmonologist at Valencia Pulmonary Medical Group who also serves as the medical director for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, said that many of the patients he has seen in his office are there due to this decrease in air quality.

“They are having issues because of the fires and the smoke from those fires,” he said.

The smoke produced by the wildfires in Southern California is composed of small particles, gases, and water vapor. It’s the small particles that public health officials say are the primary health concern. 

“These small particles can cause burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illness,” reads a statement issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Thursday. “In people with sensitive conditions, they can cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and chest pain.”

Saroa noted that most of these patients already have some sort of underlying respiratory issue, with the two most common being asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

See Related: Smoke Advisory Issued For Third-Straight Day In Santa Clarita

However, despite the increase in smoke-related illnesses at his private practice, Saroa said that he had not seen an increase in respiratory patients at Henry Mayo. Similarly, hospital spokesman Patrick Moody confirmed Thursday that Henry Mayo “had not seen an uptick.”

“I’m really only seeing COVID patients at the hospital,” Saroa said. “People are not going to the hospital over the smoke.”

The Valencia pulmonologist believes that the public health measures put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as wearing face masks in public and staying indoors, have helped to reduce the number of severe respiratory illnesses caused by the smoke.

“Masks are helping to some extent, as the small particles are not getting into people’s lungs,” he said. “Wearing masks and staying indoors is helping.”

Saroa urged residents to continue these practices, as well as keeping windows in homes and vehicles closed, limiting exercise to indoor activities, and using an air filtering system if available.

As of Thursday afternoon, AQMD officials forecast air quality in Santa Clarita to remain unhealthy for sensitive individuals through Friday.

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