Breathe & Brain

Infographics

Wildfire Smoke: The Science, Visualized

Two original bilingual infographics created for this project. Click to zoom and pan, or download the original files.

Bilingual English/French infographic titled 'From Wildfire Smoke to the Brain — La Fumée des Feux aux Cerveaux', subtitled 'Tiny particles. Big effects.' It defines PM2.5 as particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or smaller from wildfire smoke, then shows six numbered steps: 1, inhaled into the nose and lungs; 2, reaches the alveoli (tiny air sacs); 3, enters the bloodstream across the alveolar-capillary barrier; 4, travels through the body via circulation to the blood vessels of the brain; 5, reaches the brain and may cross the blood–brain barrier; 6, another pathway through the nasal olfactory nerve, where it can cause oxidative stress and inflammation that may damage neurons. A short-term effects panel (as early as 4–24 hours) lists headaches, difficulty in emotion regulation, brain fog, difficulty solving problems and reduced selective attention, and migraine. A long-term effects panel lists cognitive decline, dementia, and cerebrovascular disease such as stroke as associated with long-term PM2.5 exposure. Closing line: 'Cleaner air today for a healthier brain tomorrow.' — From Wildfire Smoke to the Brain
La Fumée des Feux aux Cerveaux
A bilingual six-step pathway showing how PM2.5 from wildfire smoke can be inhaled, reach the alveoli, enter the bloodstream, travel through the body and reach blood vessels of the brain — plus a second route through the nasal olfactory nerve — followed by short-term and long-term effects that have been associated with PM2.5 exposure.
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Bilingual English/French infographic titled 'From Wildfire Smoke to Your Health', subtitled 'Tiny particles. Big impact. / Petites particules, grande impacte.' Six numbered steps run top to bottom with illustrations: 1, wildfires release smoke and tiny particles called PM2.5 are created; 2, what is PM2.5 — a mixture of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets, each 2.5 micrometres in diameter or smaller; 3, easily inhaled and can penetrate deep into the lungs; 4, lodges in the alveoli and starts to inflame the lung, damaging lung cells; 5, enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body; 6, systemic effects — PM2.5 can affect multiple organs and systems, leading to blood clots and increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. Each step has an English and French text box. — From Wildfire Smoke to Your Health
Petites particules, grande impacte
A bilingual six-step vertical timeline: wildfires release smoke, what PM2.5 is (2.5 micrometres or smaller), how easily it is inhaled, how it lodges in the alveoli and inflames the lungs, how it enters the bloodstream, and the systemic effects on multiple organs.
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Smoke 101 →

What PM2.5 is and where it comes from.

Your Brain on Smoke →

The pathways, step by step.

Research & Sources →

Where the science comes from.