Impacts of Fine Particulate Matter from Wildfire Smoke on Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health in California

Abstract

presenting substantial threat to human health. In particular, the past several fire seasons in the Western United States rank among the most devastating in history and 6 of the 20 largest wildfires ever in California occurred in 2020 alone (Cal Fire, 2020). While extensive research has established the negative effects of particles measuring less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 ) on respiratory and cardiovascular health (Dominici et al., 2006;Medina-Ramon et al., 2006), the previous literature focuses mostly on air pollution generated from the burning of fossil fuels (Naeher et al., 2007). However, the composition of PM emitted from wildfire differs from PM generated from fossil fuel combustion (Naeher et al., 2007) and some have suggested that the unique mixture of particulates in smoke may have unique toxicity (Aguilera et al., 2021;Stowell et al., 2019). Given the distinctions between fire-derived PM and other sources of PM, and that wildfires are likely to present an

Data Linkages for Wildfire Exposures and Human Health Studies: A Scoping Review

“…Many studies also integrated meteorological data when constructing models. These meteorological data were obtained from a variety of sources, ranging from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (Ademu et al, 2022;Heaney et al, 2022;J. C. Liu Wilson, Mickley, Dominici et al, 2017) to local weather stations (Kiser et al, 2020(Kiser et al, , 2021.…”

“…Researchers used various levels of administrative and electronic health record (EHR) data, such as emergency department (ED) visits (Aguilera, Corringham, Gershunov, Leibel, & Benmarhnia, 2021;Alman et al, 2016;Casey et al, 2021;CDC, 2008;Dohrenwend et al, 2013;Howard et al, 2021;Shusterman et al, 1993), clinic visits (Aguilera, Corringham, Gershunov, Leibel, & Benmarhnia, 2021;Howard et al, 2021), hospitalizations Aguilera et al, 2020;Alman et al, 2016;Cançado et al, 2006;S. E. Cleland et al, 2021;DeFlorio-Barker et al, 2019;Delfino et al, 2009;Gan et al, 2017;Heaney et al, 2022;Howard et al, 2021), and emergency medical services dispatches (H. J. Cleland et al, 2011;Dennekamp et al, 2015;Yao et al, 2020).…”

Disruptions from Wildfire Smoke: Vulnerabilities in Local Economies and Disadvantaged Communities in the U.S.

“…Certain populations, such as lower-income, children or older adults, medically compromised individuals or those who cannot avoid exposure, are especially vulnerable to smokeinduced health effects. Wildfire smoke exposure is associated with asthma exacerbations, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, dysrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, out-ofhospital cardiac arrests, and all-cause mortality (Reid et al 2016;Heaney et al 2022;Wettstein et al 2018). Such health outcomes as cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular emergency department visits have been linked specifically to heavy-density smoke exposure, which has increased the most in the past decade (Wettstein et al 2018).…”