What are the health impacts of bushfire smoke and do face masks help?

The lingering bushfire smoke hanging over Sydney has prompted some to wear face masks outside.

A woman seen wearing a dust mask as smoke haze from bushfires in New South Wales blankets the CBD in Sydney, Tuesday, December 3, 2019. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

Some Sydney-siders are wearing face masks to help cope with the smoke. Source: AAP

As dozens of bushfires continue to burn across NSW, smoke haze is expected to be a regular sight this summer.

The smoke has already lingered over Sydney for a record-long period and the Bureau of Meteorology isn’t predicting a return to clear skies for a few days yet.

Apart from obscuring the view, the smoke contains harmful PM2.5 particulants that are tiny enough to be breathed into your lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream.