Cardiovascular health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure

Abstract

In recent years, wildland fires have occurred more frequently and with increased intensity in many fire-prone areas. In addition to the direct life and economic losses attributable to wildfires, the emitted smoke is a major contributor to ambient air pollution, leading to significant public health impacts. Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of particulate matter (PM), gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. PM from wildfire smoke has a high content of elemental carbon and organic carbon, with lesser amounts of metal compounds. Epidemiological studies have consistently found an association between exposure to wildfire smoke (typically monitored as the PM concentration) and increased respiratory morbidity and mortality. However, previous reviews of the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure have not established a conclusive link between wildfire smoke exposure and adverse cardiovascular effects. In this review, we systematically evaluate published epidemiological observations, controlled clinical exposure studies, and toxicological studies focusing on evidence of wildfire smoke exposure and cardiovascular effects, and identify knowledge gaps. Improving exposure assessment and identifying sensitive cardiovascular endpoints will serve to better understand the association between exposure to wildfire smoke and cardiovascular effects and the mechanisms involved. Similarly, filling the knowledge gaps identified in this review will better define adverse cardiovascular health effects of exposure to wildfire smoke, thus informing risk assessments and potentially leading to the development of targeted interventional strategies to mitigate the health impacts of wildfire smoke.

Excess of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to fine particulate matter exposure during the 2020 wildfires in the United States

“…Exposure to PM 2.5 , specifically from wildfires, has been associated with negative health outcomes (3,4,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), including all-cause mortality and respiratory morbidity, as well as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and others (11,12,17,18). In particular, studies have shown that short-term wildfire-specific PM 2.5 exposure is linked to increases in asthma symptoms, emergency department visits for respiratory symptoms, and respiratory hospital admissions, as well as increases in risk and severity of respiratory viral infections (4,(19)(20)(21).…”

Seasonal Wildfire Outbreak Trend and its Consequences on Forest Biodiversity and the Environment: A Case Study of Sierra Leone

“…Base on a study conducted by Hooghiem et al (2020) wildfire outbreaks has been found to emit huge quantity of trace gases and aerosols into the atmosphere. Besides the economic loss potential characterized by wildfire, it is considered as a major source of ambient air pollution resulting to negative impact on public health due to its emitted smoke (Chen, Samet, Bromberg, & Tong, 2021). The impact of wildfire on public health is sometimes felt far beyond it immediate ignition point due to smoke movement (Cascio, 2018;Chen et al, 2021;Le et al, 2014).…”

“…Concomitantly, wildfire outbreak has negatively been impacting the socio-economic activities of wildfire prone communities especially in the northern part of Sierra Leone. For example, in Sierra Leone and elsewhere, wildfire burning release Co2 emission and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Awoko, 2016;Chen et al, 2021). Additionally, the inhalation of smoke during burning each season pose a serious health threats to communities prone to frequent fires each year (Awoko, 2016;Chen et al, 2021).…”

Impacts from Wildfires on Livestock Health and Production: Producer Perspectives

“…Across both human and animal research, additional data is needed on the effects of natural exposure to wildfire smoke. With the increased occurrence of wildfires, literature studying the impacts of wildfires on human health has been rapidly expanding [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The evaluation of smoke and particulate matter exposure and human health outcomes has been a particular focus [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”