Report finds high levels of hazardous air from wildfire smoke inside Chicago apartments

[00:00:00]the wildfire smoke is on the way out. We know that, but some of it is probably still trapped inside your home.

[00:00:06]>> Some alarming data from Alertify found the air inside dozens of apartments hit hazardous levels. Joining us now is Melissa Bernardo with Alertify. Uh thanks so much for joining us, Melissa.

[00:00:17]What did the data show?

[00:00:20]>> Uh hi. Thank you so much for having me.

[00:00:23]Um so basically at Alertify, we have these little devices in all of our units, um all properties that we >> [laughter] >> that we um co-manage. And basically across 31 properties in Chicago, we found and analyzed that um data from outdoor noise um air quality monitoring systems were peaking at certain levels. And what we found in our apartments is that the air quality was just as bad as what it was outside.

[00:00:54]Um and so we found that um as the air quality outside um apartments climbed, along with it was the indoor air quality um climbing. So yeah, we found that um even inside um where windows were closed and doors were closed, um that was it was still pretty high um according to our data.

[00:01:21]>> I want to ask you why because I know we have uh some of our coworkers here at Fox 32 Chicago, they live in high-rises and they were telling us that, you know, they kept the windows closed, you know, obviously the AC was on inside um and they still could smell the smoke and almost like see it inside. Do you have any indication as to why?

[00:01:41]>> So smoke particles are measured um through our device on a PM 2.5 scale.

[00:01:48]And that basically means that it's really fine particles. So sometimes people believe that HVAC uh systems in their properties will filter that filter those systems out, but unless you have a specific filter like um you know, a specific filter within your HVAC system, uh it can't actually clear the air. So, that is why um the smoke can just come through your windows in very tiny cracks.

[00:02:18]Um so, I'm sure you know, like if your window is closed, air can still uh circulate around the the um apartment. So, yeah, that's basically why.

[00:02:28]>> Sure.

[00:02:28]>> Did Alertify find that once Melissa, the wildfire smoke cleared, the air quality improved at all? And how immediately?

[00:02:37]>> Yeah, so basically what we found um which was really interesting was that on Thursday the um air quality had a a bit of a peak, and then over the weekend it had subsided a little bit until uh I believe it was Saturday where there was a little bit more smoke coming in towards the end of Saturday. Um until Monday, uh the air started clearing up a little bit, but there was still a lot of uh smoke particles in the air. So, even if visibly you couldn't see the air in like, [clears throat] you know, dirty air in the apartment, um you were still breathing in those toxins.

[00:03:16]>> Wow, that's interesting.

[00:03:18]>> are alarming.

[00:03:19]>> Yes.

[00:03:20]>> When you say about the 31 apartments, I want to go back to this. Um are these varying buildings? Are they of different ages? Are they, you know, um three are we talking about, you know, a three-flat building? Are we talking about high-rises? Can you speak to that at all?

[00:03:37]>> Yeah, so it's basically we tracked four different apartments around Chicago.

[00:03:42]Um so, those 31 units are broken up between them. Um and it is um apartment buildings, so it is uh quite big buildings.

[00:03:52]Um yeah, that's basically what I can say about them.

[00:03:55]>> Yeah, so there is a variety that you What is the takeaway from this report?

[00:03:59]What is What is the actionable action?

[00:04:02]What could we do What now that we have this information, Melissa?

[00:04:06]>> Uh, so I think what we can take away from this is that you know, uh, smoking events like this is not just visual. Um, sometimes air quality can be bad and you won't know it. So, you might think the smoke is clearing. I think the best thing to do is possibly have something where you can track your indoor air quality. Possibly get an air purifier is also like a really great, um, step. Making sure that your apartment building has the correct filters in your, um, HVAC systems. So, that, you know, if an event like this was to happen again, you would be more prepared and you would also know more, um, of what's happening.

[00:04:43]>> No, very good point there, um, and very interesting, uh, numbers, too, Melissa.

[00:04:47]Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for coming on Fox 32 Chicago. Good Day Chicago.

[00:04:53]>> Thank you so much. Have a good rest of your day.

[00:04:55]>> All right, you do the same.