As wildfires burn, scientists race to understand the health dangers of prolonged exposure

Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Air Quality and Public Health

More than 120 million Americans — one-third of the U.S. population — have been living under air quality alerts this summer, with citizens in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit at times experiencing some of the unhealthiest air in the world. The hazy conditions, fed by an unprecedented surge in Canadian wildfires likely fueled by climate change, has grounded planes, canceled outdoor sporting events, and filled emergency rooms with asthma patients.

Increasing Concerns and Urgent Need for Research

Although some cities are experiencing relief this week, the 1,000-plus blazes raging in boreal forests from British Columbia to Nova Scotia mean that Americans in the Midwest and eastern United States can expect more waves of eye-stinging, throat-burning smoke.

That smoke is more than a nuisance: It contains dangerous particulate matter that we breathe into our lungs, and scientists are urgently calling for more research to understand the health effects of increasingly frequent exposures. They’re also worried that the widely used air quality index is insufficient to alert us to the particular threat of wildfire smoke, which early research suggests may be more harmful than other types of air pollution.

It’s well-established that short, intense exposures to wildfire smoke can exacerbate respiratory problems like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and aggravate pre-existing heart issues, causing surges in hospital visits. Much less is known, though, about the accumulated risks of living and breathing in even mildly smoky conditions day after day.

“Right now, we don’t have a good understanding of what the long-term effects of prolonged exposures to wildfire smoke are,” said Ana Rappold, an epidemiologist at the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a data gap she and other scientists are trying to fill. Research teams are looking at changes to lung function, cognition, and gene expression after smoke exposure and potential impacts on developing fetuses and infants, efforts that have taken on new urgency with recent events.

The Unique Risks of Wildfire Smoke

Days- or weeks-long stretches of thick smoke have already been an increasingly common feature of life in the western U.S. In states including Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, wildfires have in recent years reversed the substantial air quality gains achieved by the Clean Air Act of 1970 — especially when it comes to the most dangerous particulates, called PM_2.5.

Particulate matter is a term for solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air; PM_2.5 is the tiniest and farthest traveling of these. With a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, less than 1/20th the width of a human hair, they can stay airborne for long periods of time and float over hundreds of miles. At those sizes, particles can also get past the slimy, sticky defenses of a person’s nasal passages and be inhaled deep into the lungs. From there, they can enter the bloodstream and lodge in different tissues including the heart, kidneys, and brain, damaging cells, causing inflammation, and increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and infection.

These public health concerns are the reasons governments regulate PM_2.5. For decades, the chief sources of PM_2.5 in the U.S. have been smokestacks, factories, and vehicle tail pipes and tires slapping off microscopic flecks of rubber. Most of what researchers know about the health impacts of particulate matter come from studying this kind of air pollution. They know a lot less about wildfire-generated PM_2.5, but emerging evidence suggests it’s even more problematic, especially for lung health.

Health Impacts and Research Findings

Researchers have found that wildfire-specific PM_2.5 is more likely to send people over the age of 65 to the hospital for respiratory issues than similar concentrations of PM_2.5 from other sources, like car exhaust. In Colorado, increases in wildfire PM_2.5caused higher spikes in emergency room visits for asthma than did other kinds of air pollution.

Similar results from a study in Southern California last year found that wildfire PM_2.5 increased unplanned hospital visits for all respiratory visits by 3% and by 10% for asthma specifically. Yet another recent study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found PM_2.5 created by wildfires was associated with an increase in hospitalizations for respiratory conditions up to 10 times higher than for PM_2.5 from other sources.

“The health effects really do seem to be different, and it’s a difference we can’t ignore,” said Mary Rice, director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Institute for Lung Health in Boston.

Composition and Toxicity of Wildfire Smoke

Toxicology studies have suggested that these differences likely lie in the unique make-up of wildfire PM_2.5. In one, researchers found that mice exposed to particulate matter collected during the 2008 Camp Fire in Northern California experienced a rush of white blood cells, inflammation, and fluid into their lungs. They estimated that microgram for microgram, wildfire PM₂

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The issue of air pollution, specifically related to wildfire smoke, is connected to SDG 3 as it poses risks to respiratory health and can lead to illnesses and hospital visits.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The issue of air pollution affects cities and communities, highlighting the need to address air quality and its impact on public health.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article mentions the connection between the increase in Canadian wildfires and climate change, emphasizing the need for climate action to mitigate the risks associated with wildfires and their impact on air quality.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination

The article highlights the health risks associated with wildfire smoke, which contains dangerous particulate matter that can exacerbate respiratory problems and lead to hospital visits. Achieving this target involves reducing the number of deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, including wildfire smoke.

Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

The article discusses how cities, such as New York City, Chicago, and Detroit, have experienced unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke. This target emphasizes the importance of addressing air quality in cities and reducing the adverse environmental impact caused by pollutants like wildfire smoke.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

The article highlights the connection between climate change and the increase in Canadian wildfires, which contribute to poor air quality. Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, such as wildfires, is crucial to mitigate their impact on air quality and public health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

– Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 3.9, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals and air pollution.

– Proportion of urban population living in areas where air quality meets WHO guidelines: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 11.6, which focuses on improving air quality in cities.

– Number of people affected by climate-related hazards and natural disasters: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.1, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: statnews.com

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