Sunday, August 9, 2026 / Eugene-Springfield / Lane County
Small lungs, bad air: what smoke does to kids
Children breathe faster, spend more time outside and are still developing. A Eugene pediatrician says smoke days require a different calculation for them.
Wildfire smoke has cleared for now. Parents still get to keep the problem, because it will be back.
Dr. Miranda Lanning, a PeaceHealth RiverBend pediatrician, says children take a harder hit than adults because their bodies and lungs are smaller, their lungs are still developing, they breathe faster, and they tend to spend more time outside. Babies under one year old — especially those born prematurely — and children with asthma or other lung conditions need extra care. Symptoms can include coughing, sore throat, irritated eyes, fatigue and shortness of breath.
On bad-air days, close windows and doors at home and in the car, run indoor filtration, and make sure asthma medication will last through more frequent use. Check LRAPA rather than guessing from the color of the sky. Heat and strenuous exercise can compound the problem. Lanning’s advice for talking with children is equally plain: explain what is happening, keep routines where possible, focus on what the family can control, and let the adults be the calm ones.
Field notes
What changed: A local pediatrician laid out specific smoke risks and practical steps for children after the valley’s recent smoky stretch.
Why it matters: Children can receive a larger dose of polluted air relative to their size, and repeated exposure can affect developing lungs.
Who may be affected: Families with children, especially babies, premature infants and kids with asthma or other respiratory conditions.