Thursday's massive Colby Fire, burning in the foothills above Glendora and Asuza, has sent up a plume of toxic smoke that can be seen practically from the Pacific coastline. Even if your home is not in the path of the fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air, experts say. What's in that smoke, and how much should you be worried about breathing today? RELATED: Colby Fire: 3 suspects in Glendora fire ID'd, held on $20,000 bail Depending on the fire, the smoke can be made up of various substances including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, particulate matter, organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides and more. Exposure to smoke can cause a range of health effects, from eye and lung irritation to asthma and premature death. Particulate matter is the main public health threat during short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, so it’s crucial to protect yourself. “Really it's about common sense,” said Philip Fine of the South Coast Air Quality Management District on AirTalk Thursday.

“If you can see the smoke, if you can smell the smoke, you can tell when the particulate matter levels are really high. If you can do that, you should exercise caution.”paint sprayer cleaning kit Here are tips on how to stay safe if you're in the patch of a wildfire from the AQMD and the Air Resources Board:air duct cleaning training classes What should I do if I’m in an area affected by smoke?fuel injector air intake cleanerclose all doors and windows. Everyone should avoid vigorous outdoor and indoor activity. Those with respiratory difficulties or heart problems, as well as the elderly and young children should all remain indoors. Keep windows closed and run your air conditioner if possible. Running an indoor air filter is effective in helping reduce the amount of polluted air inside the home.

Do not use any indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances or fireplaces. When smoke subsides, you should air out your home to clear any polluted air that might be trapped inside. What if I don’t have air conditioning, and it’s too hot to stay inside? Heat can be dangerous to anyone, but especially the elderly and very young. If you rely on open windows and doors for cooling, AQMD recommends you stay with friends or family, or head to a clean air shelter. What if I have to be outside? The best thing to do is to seek shelter, but if you must be outside, being prepared is key. Wearing a special N95 or P100 respirator mask can help protect you against the fine particles in smoke. Paper or surgical masks are not effective in preventing inhalation of smoke. Who is the most vulnerable to smoke exposure? Most healthy people will recover quickly if exposed to smoke, but there’s a large number of people who should take extra precaution. People with asthma and those with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases can experience worsening of their conditions if they inhale smoke.

The elderly, young children and pregnant women are all sensitive populations that should avoid exposure. In addition, smokers should beware, because they may not feel symptoms of exposure as acutely as non-smokers. What if I’m driving through an area affected by smoke? A car should only be used to leave an area, not as shelter. If you’re in a car, close windows and doors and run your car’s air conditioner, making sure you’re circulating the air already in the car and not pulling in fresh/smoky air. However, according to the AQMD, carbon dioxide levels can spike quickly in newer cars if vents and windows are closed and the circulation setting is on. It’s a good idea to crack the windows once you're in there for a while to prevent grogginess. How do I find out if I'm in an advisory zone? The AQMD monitors the air 24/7 and offers a handy, interactive map of air quality in Southern California. You can check the air quality in your area at any time via their website.

They will also post information there if there's a special advisory because of a wildfire or other event. You can also sign up for advisory alerts here. Are you affected by the smoke from today's wildfire? Let us know on our Facebook page, on Twitter ("@" mention @KPCC) or in the comments below. > Arts & Living > Home and Garden There's No Keeping Pollen Out, But Let's Try to Hold It Down Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 12, 2007 Pollen season -- leaving its telltale yellow film on windowsills, tabletops and cars -- is upon us with a sneezing, itchy-eyed vengeance. There is no way to avoid the stuff completely -- moving to Antarctica might help -- but there are ways to fight back inside our homes. The closest thing to universal advice from experts is to keep doors and windows shut, especially during the peak pollen hours of 5 to 10 a.m., says Thomas Casale, president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, based in Milwaukee.

Beyond that, here are some options for clearing the air: Filters that fit over window screens are another low-tech approach to keeping out the allergens. These reusable filters -- some are made of wire mesh, others of plastic -- come in frames up to 11 inches tall that expand sideways for a snug fit. Manufacturers claim they block 90 percent of pollen from entering the home. Until you need to turn on the air conditioning, you can use the fan-only mode on window units or a central system to circulate air, says Mark Connelly, Consumer Reports magazine's senior director of appliances and home improvement. The fan will bring in fresh air while filtering particulates from outdoors. For more protection, install HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters in window air-conditioning units or central air and heating systems. These filters, made with glass fibers, are designed to trap more than 99 percent of pollen, dust and tobacco smoke. A one-inch-thick HEPA filter for HVAC units costs much more than a conventional model.

At Strosniders hardware stores in Montgomery County, for example, standard filters start at $1.69, while the least-expensive HEPA version is $17.99. Retrofitting a forced-air ventilation system with larger HEPA filters can also be costly. To remain at peak effectiveness, HEPA filters must be changed at least every month, perhaps more often, because they trap more pollutants than standard filters. "If you don't [change them], the furnace or the blower motor can overheat or the air conditioner can ice up," says Bob Nibert, service manager at Academy Heating and Air Conditioning in Rockville. Room air purifiers, about the size of dehumidifiers, filter air within a closed space. They use HEPA filters or other technology to clean air before recirculating it. Larger spaces need larger units; most specify the maximum area they can handle. For best results, they should circulate the air several times an hour. "If you are going to focus on a particular room, focus on the bedroom, because it's where you spend the most time," allergist Casale says.

But Connelly of Consumer Reports has doubts about a single-room approach to air filtration. "If you have pollen as an issue, it makes more sense to get a whole-house cleaner" in the HVAC system. Remove pollen regularly from household surfaces by dusting with a microfiber cloth or a slightly damp rag, says Philip Doyle, owner of the MaidPro franchise in the District's Adams Morgan neighborhood. Clean "top to bottom" to keep particles from flying around. Although Web sites offering products geared to allergy sufferers feature special cleaning sprays such as AllerDust, Casale says, a regular dusting cloth or a feather duster sprayed with furniture polish will pick up more particles without sending them airborne. Once surfaces are clean, damp-mop the floor or use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. "Pollen is a very large thing and tends to settle out very quickly; it tends to drop to the floor," Connelly says. If you are particularly sensitive to pollen, shower and wash your hair before bedtime every night to remove allergens you may have brought indoors.