Health impact analysis of PM2.5 from wildfire smoke in Canada (2013–2015, 2017–2018)

Matz, Carlyn J.; Egyed, Marika; Xi, Guoliang; Racine, Jacinthe; Pavlovic, Radenko; Rittmaster, Robyn; Henderson, Sarah B.; Stieb, David M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138506

Cited by 149 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Wildfire smoke may impact specific cardiovascular endpoints such as out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (33,93) and emergency department visits, particularly among the elderly (180). Studies with sufficient statistical power demonstrate a small but significant increase in mortality (37,48,89,123). Additionally, there is increased interest in whether wildfire smoke affects birth outcomes.…”

Section: Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

Ebi

Vanos

Baldwin

et al. 2021

Annu. Rev. Public Health

502

174

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Extreme weather and climate events, such as heat waves, cyclones, and floods, are an expression of climate variability. These events and events influenced by climate change, such as wildfires, continue to cause significant human morbidity and mortality and adversely affect mental health and well-being. Although adverse health impacts from extreme events declined over the past few decades, climate change and more people moving into harm's way could alter this trend. Long-term changes to Earth's energy balance are increasing the frequency and intensity of many extreme events and the probability of compound events, with trends projected to accelerate under certain greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. While most of these events cannot be completely avoided, many of the health risks could be prevented through building climate-resilient health systems with improved risk reduction, preparation, response, and recovery. Conducting vulnerability and adaptation assessments and developing health system adaptation plans can identify priority actions to effectively reduce risks, such as disaster risk management and more resilient infrastructure. The risks are urgent, so action is needed now. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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Section: Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

Ebi

Vanos

Baldwin

et al. 2021

Annu. Rev. Public Health

502

174

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Nawaz and Henze (2020) estimate mortality based on annual exposure, despite the more episodic nature of fires that occur over the course of several. Recent studies in the United States and Canada suggest that incorporating short‐term health outcomes would increase the total health burden due to fires (Fann et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2017; Matz et al, 2020). Finally, Nawaz and Henze (2020) also assume that the health impact of smoke is comparable to that of other particulates (Cascio, 2018).…”

Section: Estimating the Influence Of Fires On Air Pollution In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Brazilian Fires Affect Air Pollution and Public Health?

2020

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Fires burning across the Amazon in the summer of 2019 attracted global attention for the widespread destruction of natural ecosystems and regional smoke production. Using a combination of satellite fire observations and atmospheric modeling, Nawaz and Henze (2020, https://doi.org.10.1029/ 2020GH000268) provide new evidence for the widespread regional public health consequences attributed to these fires. They find that approximately 10% of premature deaths in Brazil due to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) are attributable to smoke pollution and highlight how fire locations play a critical role in determining downwind health impacts. Plain Language Summary The 2019 fire season in the Amazon had widespread effects on natural ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions, and regional air pollution concentrations. Nawaz and Henze (2020) examine the relationship between fires, air pollution, and public health outcomes in Brazil. They find an increase in fire emissions and associated health outcomes for 2019 compared to 2018.

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“…While health impact analyses have not been conducted for the most recent 2020 Washington wildfire smoke episode, previous studies have attempted to quantify the population health burden of wildfire smoke exposures in other contexts (Fann et al., 2018; Johnston et al., 2011; Matz et al., 2020; Zou et al., 2019). It was estimated that more than 0.3 million deaths were attributable to landscape fire smoke exposure each year globally (Johnston et al., 2012); 54–240 and 570–2,500 premature mortalities per year were attributable to short‐term and long‐term exposure, respectively to wildfire PM 2.5 in Canada (Matz et al., 2020); and 1,500–2,500 premature deaths each year were attributable to short‐term exposure to wildfire PM 2.5 in the United States from 2008 to 2012 (Fann et al., 2018). However, none of these health impact assessments had estimated the impact of reducing exposure through exposure interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode: Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM_2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions

et al. 2021

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Major wildfires starting in the summer of 2020 along the west coast of the United States made PM 2.5 concentrations in this region rank among the highest in the world. Washington was impacted both by active wildfires in the state and aged wood smoke transported from fires in Oregon and California. This study aims to estimate the magnitude and disproportionate spatial impacts of increased PM 2.5 concentrations attributable to these wildfires on population health. Daily PM 2.5 concentrations for each county before and during the 2020 Washington wildfire episode (September 7–19) were obtained from regulatory air monitors. Utilizing previously established concentration‐response function (CRF) of PM 2.5 (CRF of total PM 2.5 ) and odds ratio (OR) of wildfire smoke days (OR of wildfire smoke days) for mortality, we estimated excess mortality attributable to the increased PM 2.5 concentrations in Washington. On average, daily PM 2.5 concentrations increased 97.1 μg/m 3 during the wildfire smoke episode. With CRF of total PM 2.5 , the 13‐day exposure to wildfire smoke was estimated to lead to 92.2 (95% CI: 0.0, 178.7) more all‐cause mortality cases; with OR of wildfire smoke days, 38.4 (95% CI: 0.0, 93.3) increased all‐cause mortality cases and 15.1 (95% CI: 0.0, 27.9) increased respiratory mortality cases were attributable to the wildfire smoke episode. The potential impact of avoiding elevated PM 2.5 exposures during wildfire events significantly reduced the mortality burden. Because wildfire smoke episodes are likely to impact the Pacific Northwest in future years, continued preparedness and mitigations to reduce exposures to wildfire smoke are necessary to avoid excess health burden.

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Health impact analysis of PM2.5 from wildfire smoke in Canada (2013–2015, 2017–2018)

Cited by 149 publications

References 23 publications

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

How Do Brazilian Fires Affect Air Pollution and Public Health?

Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode: Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM_2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions

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Health impact analysis of PM2.5 from wildfire smoke in Canada (2013–2015, 2017–2018)

Cited by 149 publications

References 23 publications

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications

How Do Brazilian Fires Affect Air Pollution and Public Health?

Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode: Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions

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Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode: Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM_2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions