Wildfire smoke exposure under climate change

Abstract

Purpose of review-In this review, we describe the current status of the literature regarding respiratory health related to wildfire smoke exposure, anticipated future impacts under a changing climate, and strategies to reduce respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke. Recent Findings-Recent findings confirm associations between wildfire smoke exposure and respiratory health outcomes, with the clearest evidence for exacerbations of asthma. Although previous evidence showed a clear association between wildfire smoke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, findings from recent studies are more mixed. Current evidence in support of an association between respiratory infections and wildfire smoke exposure is also mixed. The only study to investigate long-term respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke demonstrated decreases in lung function ten years after exposure though this finding was only in males who were young adults during the 1997 Indonesian fires. Few studies have estimated future health impacts of wildfires under likely climate change scenarios. Summary-Wildfire activity has been increasing over the past several decades and is likely to continue to do so as climate change progresses, which, combined with a growing population, means that population exposure to and respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke is likely to grow in the future. More research is needed to understand which population subgroups are most vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure and the long-term respiratory health impacts of these high pollution events.

Mapping Modeled Exposure of Wildland Fire Smoke for Human Health Studies in California

“…general ambient particulate matter (PM) and respiratory and cardiovascular disease, scientific evidence is lacking for wildfire smoke associations with outcomes other than asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [3][4][5]. More specifically, studies of single fires in California have reported limited associations between wildfire PM exposure and cardiovascular hospitalizations [6,7] and reductions in birthweight [8].…”

“…Accordingly, novel studies examining multi-fire periods with additional wildfire exposure metrics are needed to characterize associations in vulnerable groups and to establish a scientific basis for action to minimize smoke exposure. One reason for the limited number of epidemiologic studies of wildland fire air emissions is related to the need for better exposure assessment techniques, including modeling, stationary monitoring, remote sensing, or low cost sensors [3,13,14]. The purposes of this study are to estimate county level exposures to wildland fire-PM for California and to examine the strengths and limitations of using chemical transport models for health studies.…”

“…While fire-specific PM exposure is associated with pulmonary outcomes, the evidence for cardiovascular disease is mixed, and there is evidence with limitations regarding maternal and birth outcomes [3,4,8,29]. Increases in exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy have been positively associated with adverse birth outcomes and an increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [22,30].…”

Respiratory Sex Differences in Response to Smoke Exposure

“…smoke, the larger the exposure (Reid and Maestas 2019). Furthermore, fine PM levels in the areas surrounding wildfires have been observed at approximately 400ug/m 3 for daily concentrations, which is substantially higher than the NAAQS and thus presents a respiratory health risk.…”

Wildfires as a Public Health Problem: a Setting for Nursing in Disasters

“…Consequently, the impact of wildfire smoke on health will be increased in a near future. ( 1 ) Hence, it is to be expected that, knowing the increasing in frequency and intensity of extreme climate conditions, policies would be designed and implemented to prevent wildfires, along with public health strategies to coping smoke inhalation and to respond efficiently to their ravages.…”