Researchers see need for long-range wildfire smoke warnings

Researchers at Colorado State University recently published a study on the health impacts of long-range wildfire smoke. The study, Differential Cardiopulmonary Health Impacts of Local and Long-Range Transport of Wildfire Smoke, is published in GeoHealth, a journal from the American Geophysical Union.

Researchers know that wildfire smoke is associated with increased hospitalizations for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and some cardiovascular health outcomes. However, less is known about how harmful smoke is as it travels and becomes long-range smoke.

The research team separated out health effects of smoke local to the wildfire versus the health effects of long-range smoke. Long-range smoke was associated with increases in hospitalizations and increased risk of death from cardiovascular outcomes.

Over the last five years, air quality monitoring networks have been enhanced with new technologies and better measurements of real-time smoke effects. Researchers are now collaborating with local government officials on messaging related to the different types of wildfire smoke, with a specific aim to reach the most vulnerable populations.

The research team believes that evacuation efforts and media coverage of local wildfires may have helped protect residents from adverse health effects of local smoke exposure as well as direct impacts of the fires. This messaging could be extended to reach people affected by long-range smoke.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration