During the bushfire season, smoke reduces the quality of the air you breathe. Smoke from bushfires and prescribed burns is made up of small particles, gases and water vapour. The particles are very small, up to 1/30th the diameter of an average human hair, and are not visible to the human eye. The gases in bushfire smoke include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

Fine smoke particles are known to affect the human breathing system. The smaller or finer the particles, the deeper they go into the lungs. These particles can cause a variety of health problems, such as itchy or burning eyes, throat irritation, runny nose and illnesses such as bronchitis. The smoke particles can also aggravate existing lung conditions, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Symptoms can occur for several days after smoke is inhaled, so people with the above conditions need to be vigilant with their treatment programs.

Research found in this area of this site examines the behaviour of smoke plumes and toxic particles released through fire.