T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Daniel Barritt of St. Clairsville dons a leftover COVID-19 mask to brave the smoke-tinged air in the streets of Martins Ferry. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued an air quality alert for the entire state Wednesday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

COLUMBUS — Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff is again encouraging Ohioans to be aware of possible health effects as smoke from Canadian wildfires causes poor air quality across the state.

The smoke-tinged air and the smell were evident while walking along the streets of Belmont County communities. Daniel Barritt of St. Clairsville decided to dig out one of his COVID-19 face masks to try and filter out the smoke.

“It was bothering me when I went outside this morning. I could smell the smoke,” he said.

Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul was contacted for comment and responded by text message.

“Masks are up to the public to wear, but they can help filter the particulates that are in the smoke,” he texted.

The Belmont County Health Department has included information released from the state office on its Facebook page, since for the second time in three weeks the wildfire smoke has created unhealthy conditions in Ohio, according to AirNow.gov.

“It is important to take poor air quality seriously, as exposure to smoke can cause health problems,” Vanderhoff said. “Certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as those with chronic heart or lung disease, children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Please take precautions until these conditions improve.”

Smoke from wildfires contains particulates. Particulates can be inhaled into the lungs and cause irritation of the eyes, nose or throat, coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain; it can also aggravate chronic heart and lung conditions.

The most important precaution is to limit outdoor activity, especially outdoor exercise, and spend more time indoors.

Other precautions include:

Spending time in a room that can be closed off from outside air.

Avoiding using candles, gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and aerosol sprays. Smoking tobacco products and vacuuming may worsen indoor air pollution.

Those with a central air conditioning system should use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If the system has a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode or close the outdoor intake damper.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If eyes, nose or throat are irritated, running a humidifier may provide some relief.

It also is important to check in on anyone who is more at risk and to carefully monitor children.

Those with asthma are encouraged to carefully follow their asthma action plan and make sure they have enough medication for several days.

Those with heart disease or COPD should pay close attention to symptoms such as chest pain or tightness, a fast heartbeat, feeling more out of breath than usual, or extreme fatigue. Contact a doctor if needed, or if symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1.

To see real-time air quality in the area, visit the AirNow website.

For more health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visit Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke.

The Ohio Department of Health can be reached at odh.ohio.gov.