Wildfire smoke has immediate harmful health effects

Date:
June 24, 2020
Source:
University of British Columbia
Summary:
Exposure to wildfire smoke affects the body's respiratory and
cardiovascular systems almost immediately, according to new
research.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Exposure to wildfire smoke affects the body's respiratory and
cardiovascular systems almost immediately, according to new research
from the University of British Columbia's School of Population and
Public Health.


==========================================================================
In a study published today in Environmental Health Perspectives,
researchers found that exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate
matter during wildfire seasons in British Columbia was associated
with increased odds of ambulance dispatches related to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, with increased ambulance dispatches occurring
within only one hour after exposure.

Among people with diabetes, the researchers found that the odds of
health complications increased within 48 hours following exposure to
wildfire smoke.

"We have long known about the harmful health effects of wildfire smoke,"
says Jiayun Angela Yao, the study's lead author who conducted this
research while completing her PhD in the UBC School of Population and
Public Health. "But it's alarming to see just how quickly fine particular matter seems to affect the respiratory and cardiovascular system. And
the acute effects for people with diabetes is relatively new to us." Particulate matter, also called particle pollution, is made up of tiny
pieces of dust, dirt, and smoke in the air. While larger particles can
irritate the eyes and throat, fine particles are more dangerous as they
can reach deep parts of the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

For the study, the researchers used statistical modelling to evaluate
the relationship between ambulance dispatches, paramedic assessments
and hospital admissions related to respiratory, circulatory and diabetic conditions with levels of fine particulate matter during wildfire seasons
in B.C. from 2010 to 2015. A total of more than 670,000 ambulance dispatch calls from more than 500,000 individuals were included in the study.

The researchers say this study adds to the limited previous evidence
on how quickly exposure to wildfire smoke can have harmful health
effects. The findings are especially timely now during the COVID-19
pandemic, as air pollution from wildfire smoke can make viral infections affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems even more severe.

With wildfire season quickly approaching in B.C., the researchers say
their research underscores the need for rapid public health actions to
limit exposure to wildfire smoke.

"It is vital that everyone start preparing for wildfire smoke events to
ensure that they are ready, especially since COVID-19 still a serious
public health threat in B.C.," says Yao. "Anyone with pre-existing heart
and lung disease and diabetes is especially vulnerable and should consider purchasing air cleaners, and ensuring that they have adequate supplies of medication at home." This study was supported by the Australian Research Council Linkage Program and the British Columbia Lung Association.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_British_Columbia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jiayun Yao, Michael Brauer, Julie Wei, Kimberlyn M. McGrail, Fay H.

Johnston, Sarah B. Henderson. Sub-Daily Exposure to Fine Particulate
Matter and Ambulance Dispatches during Wildfire Seasons: A
Case-Crossover Study in British Columbia, Canada. Environmental
Health Perspectives, 2020; 128 (6): 067006 DOI: 10.1289/EHP5792 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200624100045.htm

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