Wildfire Air Pollution and Health

JPB Fellow Colleen Reid latest publications:

  • Associations between ozone and fine particulate matter with respiratory health during a wildfire event.

Wildfires have been increasing in frequency in the western United States (US) with the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons experiencing some of the worst wildfires in terms of suppression costs and air pollution that the western US has seen. Although growing evidence suggests respiratory exacerbations from elevated fine particulate matter(PM2.5) during wildfires, significantly less is known about the impacts on human health of ozone (O3) that may also be increased due to wildfires. Read more.

  • Wildfire smoke exposure under climate change.

In this review, it is described 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. Read more.