Wildfires and fine particles: how to protect yourself

Journal · Vitality & Protection

Wildfires and Fine Particulates: How to Protect Yourself

Every summer, fires remind us of an invisible reality for the rest of the year: their smoke is one of the main sources of fine particulates, and the wind carries it for hundreds of kilometers. But we are not helpless.

Wildfire smoke can degrade air quality far beyond the burning areas. There are two complementary approaches: reducing exposure through simple actions, and supporting cellular defenses through diet. The first is by far the most effective. Here's how to combine them.

What are fine particulates?

"Fine particulates" refers to a microscopic mixture of dust, soot, and suspended droplets in the air. They are classified by their diameter: PM10 (less than 10 micrometers), PM2.5 (less than 2.5 µm), and ultrafine particulates PM0.1. The smaller a particle, the deeper it penetrates: PM2.5 reaches the pulmonary alveoli and can enter the bloodstream.

Their sources are numerous: road traffic (engines, braking, tire wear), wood and oil heating, industry, agriculture, domestic activities such as cooking or candles — but also major natural sources, primarily wildfires. Indoor air can thus be just as affected as outdoor air.

Wildfires: A Peak in Fine Particulates

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and very fine particles, with a high proportion of PM2.5 — the most penetrating. These particles travel long distances: so you can breathe degraded air without seeing any fire nearby. During these episodes, air quality indices sometimes reach very high levels within a few hours.

The effects felt are often immediate: eye, throat, and respiratory tract irritation, coughing, headaches, respiratory discomfort. Sensitive individuals — infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, asthmatics, or those with heart or respiratory diseases — are most exposed and should be extra vigilant.

Good practices during a smoke episode

• Stay indoors as much as possible and keep doors and windows closed.
• Limit ventilation as long as the outdoor air is heavily polluted; on a ventilation or air conditioning system, prioritize recirculation mode.
• Purify the air in living areas with a HEPA filter, primarily in the bedroom.
• Wear an FFP2 mask — not just a simple cloth mask — if you absolutely must go outside.

Why care?

Once inhaled, fine particulates trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in the body — an imbalance between aggressive molecules (free radicals) and the body's natural antioxidant defenses. This silent but repeated mechanism is at the heart of their effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Long-term exposure is associated by health authorities with an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, and an aggravation of chronic conditions.

The first and most effective protection is to limit contact.

1. Reducing exposure: the important actions

• Check air quality via local indices and adapt your activities on peak days.
• Avoid intense outdoor exertion during the most polluted hours and in the most polluted areas: during exertion, we breathe more, so we inhale more.
• Ventilate at the right time: early morning or evening, away from peak traffic.
• Clean indoor air: HEPA filter in living areas, extractor hood when cooking, fewer candles and incense.
• Wear an appropriate mask (FFP2 type) during intense peaks, especially for sensitive individuals.
• Do not smoke indoors and limit inefficient wood heating.

2. Supporting your body from within

You can't always avoid fine particulates. This is where the second line comes in: nourishing the body's natural defenses against oxidative stress. Diet plays a central role — a plate rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, quality oils, and a variety of plants naturally provides antioxidants and fatty acids.

What research shows

Active Ingredient	What published works describe
Glutathione	The major antioxidant naturally produced by the body. It neutralizes free radicals inside cells and participates in detoxification mechanisms. Studies in individuals exposed to PM2.5 report a change in antioxidant defense markers.
Alpha-lipoic acid	An antioxidant that is both water and fat-soluble. Authors describe an action at the mitochondrial level — the cells' "powerhouses" — and participation in the regeneration of glutathione and vitamin E.
Quercetin & polyphenols	Plant compounds studied for their involvement in cell protection and modulation of inflammatory reactions, particularly in the respiratory tract.
Thymoquinone (black seed)	The active compound in black seed oil. The literature describes an activation of the body's endogenous antioxidant pathways.
Lactoferrin	A protein that captures free iron — a catalyst for oxidative stress. Published works also focus on its role in mucous membranes, on the front line against external aggressions.
Hyaluronic acid	A natural component of tissues, studied for its role in the hydration and integrity of the skin — the barrier that separates us from the environment.

A key mechanism: metal chelation

Not all fine particulates are equal. Those from combustion — traffic, industry, and especially wildfire smoke — carry metals like iron or copper. Once in the body, these "free" metals behave like sparks: they catalyze reactions (called Fenton reactions) that generate free radicals and amplify oxidative stress.

This is where chelation comes in: certain molecules are able to capture these free metals and enclose them in a stable complex, rendering them inactive. The thus neutralized metal no longer fuels oxidative reactions and can be eliminated by the body's natural pathways.

Several active ingredients exhibit these chelating or detoxifying properties: lactoferrin (which specifically captures free iron), alpha-lipoic acid (which binds several metals while regenerating glutathione), glutathione (a pillar of cellular detoxification), and quercetin (an iron-chelating polyphenol).

3. The BIOLOGYST Approach

Our formulas are designed around patented active ingredients, dosed according to studies. Here is a selection focused on environmental oxidative stress.

Antioxidant Defense

The formula combines Setria® L-Glutathione (375 mg, patented and bioavailable form), Quercetin (427.5 mg), ExceptionHYAL® Star — a patented hyaluronic acid (240 mg) — and Vitamin C (150 mg), which helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Supplements to combine

Adaptive Boost

Alpha-lipoic acid (300 mg) and Setria® L-Glutathione (300 mg), supplemented with rhodiola and vitamins C and E, which help protect cells from oxidative stress.

Nigelle Active+

Black seed oil (1500 mg) rich in thymoquinone, combined with vitamin E, which helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Lactoferrin Active+

Highly bioavailable lactoferrin (Proferrin® 500 mg), the protein described above for its ability to capture free iron.

Power Hydra Flow

Hyaluronic acid (100 mg) and vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation for normal skin function.

Take the personalized diagnostic

Focus: Lactoferrin in the Most Sensitive Individuals

Lactoferrin deserves special attention for infants, children, and pregnant women. It is not a foreign compound to the body: it is a protein naturally present in breast milk and colostrum — precisely at the time of life when defenses are being built.

Why this increased sensitivity? Infants breathe faster and therefore inhale more air relative to their weight, with an still immature immune system. Children have developing lungs and often spend more time outdoors. In pregnant women, exposure is in a way shared with the fetus, and iron needs are increased.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What mask should I wear during a smoke episode?

An FFP2 mask, which filters at least 94% of particles according to EN 149 standard — or an FFP3 (99%). A surgical or cloth mask is not suitable: it is not designed for fine particulates and, most importantly, it is not sealed to the face. Air passes through the sides. A poorly fitted FFP2 or one worn over a beard loses most of its effectiveness.

How long do fine particulates remain in the air after a fire?

From a few hours to several days depending on wind, humidity, and terrain. Smoke plumes can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers: you can breathe particles from a fire you don't see and don't know exists. The absence of odor is not a reliable indicator.

Should I ventilate my home when there's smoke outside?

Not during the peak. Keep doors and windows closed as long as concentrations are high, and ventilate quickly when they decrease — usually early morning or after a wind change. A home never ventilated accumulates its own indoor pollutants; it's about choosing the right moment, not indefinitely sealing it off.

Is wildfire smoke more harmful than traffic pollution?

At equal mass of PM2.5, recent studies suggest that particles from biomass combustion may have a more pronounced respiratory effect than those from urban traffic. The question remains debated. What is established, however, is the magnitude of the peaks: a fire incident causes concentrations to rise well beyond an ordinary traffic day.

How can I check the air quality near me?

In France, the ATMO index is published daily at the municipal level by approved air quality monitoring associations (AASQA), grouped under Atmo France. Each region has its own — AtmoSud, Airparif, Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine… The index includes PM2.5 and can be freely consulted online.

Can I exercise during a fine particulate peak?

Avoid intense outdoor exertion. During exercise, the volume of air breathed increases tenfold to twentyfold, and you switch from nasal breathing — which filters a little — to oral breathing, which filters nothing. The inhaled dose therefore increases much faster than the duration of the session suggests. Postpone, or move the session indoors.

Is an air purifier really useful?

Yes, if it is equipped with a HEPA filter and correctly sized for the room: an H13 retains over 99.9% of 0.3 µm particles. Two limitations to be aware of: it does not treat gases or volatile compounds without an activated carbon stage, and its effect is limited to the room it is in. It's better to have a device in the bedroom than nothing in the entire home.

Who should be most vigilant about fine particulates?

Children (whose lungs are developing and who breathe more air per kilogram of weight), pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone with asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease. For these individuals, exposure recommendations should be discussed with a healthcare professional before fire season, not during.