Backyard experiment shows how much smoke REALLY ends up in your lungs during a bushfire

Backyard experiment shows how much smoke REALLY ends up in your lungs during a bushfire compared with smoking a pack of cigarettes

  • Experts revealed the air quality was equivalent to smoking 34 cigarettes a day
  • Man used jar of cotton balls and vacuum pump with the polluted air for 24 hours
  • He also lit up 24 cigarettes to a new jar of cotton balls to see effects of smoke 
  • After four cigarettes, cotton balls were darker than 24 hours with polluted air 

A Sydney man has conducted an experiment to show how much smoke really ends up in your lungs during the brutal bushfire season.

As bushfires continue to burn around the state of New South Wales and across the country, experts revealed the air quality was equivalent to smoking 34 cigarettes a day. 

The man conducted an experiment to see the effects of the air quality on cotton balls compared to a pack of 24 cigarettes, and shared the results on YouTube.

He did the same thing but this time lit up 24 cigarettes in a new jar of cotton balls

The man conducted the experiment when Sydney ‘was the most polluted place on earth’

Dubbed as the Brown Test, the man produced the experiment when Sydney ‘was the most polluted place on earth’. 

He placed cotton balls into a jar and connected it to a vacuum pump which sucked in the polluted air for 24 hours. 

After the day was over, the man discovered the cotton balls had a slight brown tinge from being exposed to the polluted air. 

The man then replaced the cotton balls with a fresh batch and fired up 24 cigarettes into the tube towards the cotton.  

After just four cigarettes, the man noticed the cotton balls had darkened significantly more compared to the 24 hours from the polluted air.    

The man noticed that after just four cigarettes, the cotton balls had a browner tinge (bottom right) compared to the 24 hours in the polluted air (top left)

The man noticed that after just four cigarettes, the cotton balls had a browner tinge (bottom right) compared to the 24 hours in the polluted air (top left)

The blanket of smoke (pictured) over Sydney prompted health authorities to warn asthma sufferers and people with breathing issues to stay indoors

The blanket of smoke (pictured) over Sydney prompted health authorities to warn asthma sufferers and people with breathing issues to stay indoors 

Respiratory diseases scientist Professor Brian Oliver said spending a day breathing this low quality air is like being a heavy smoker.

‘There are lots of gaseous components in the soot, and the very small particles we inhale can reach the air sacs in our lungs and penetrate into our organs,’ Dr Oliver told News.com.au.

‘The general response is inflammation, but if you have a pre-existing lung or cardiovascular condition, the fire produces something which causes inflammation which tips you over the edge.’

Orange sky: Dawn breaks over the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, New South Wales, amid extreme temperatures in the country

Orange sky: Dawn breaks over the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, New South Wales, amid extreme temperatures in the country 

Heatwave: Australia will suffer through blistering temperatures this week (shown on a map), with records expected to be under threat across the country

Heatwave: Australia will suffer through blistering temperatures this week (shown on a map), with records expected to be under threat across the country

Dr Oliver warned that the hazardous chemicals in the smoke could be detrimental to the babies of pregnant women or cause heart attacks in people with underlying cardiac conditions.

He said mothers would have to be exposed for prolonged periods for their unborn babies to be affected.  

There is currently a statewide fire ban until midnight Saturday 21st December 2019, due to hot and dry conditions across NSW. 

There are currently 112 fires burning in NSW with ‘the worst possible conditions’ of 37C and high winds due on Thursday and Saturday. 

Keeping safe in the smoke

Children, the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions are most at risk.

To minimise the risk to your health, there are some steps you can take.

– Remain indoors with the windows closed

– Preferably stay in an air-conditioned building

– Reduce outdoor activities, including all school sports

– Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth to reduce exposure to dust particles.

– Wear a P2 or P3 mask, which blocks even the finest particles if fitted correctly over the nose and mouth

– Seek medical advice if you feel ill