Air Health Our Health Our Health in Wildfire Season
Today, I’m providing a summary of the health effects of wildfire smoke. I recorded a webinar in June 2021 on the health effects of wildfire smoke that is available in English and Spanish. I’m providing an expanded podcast version of that summary here today. Topics covered include: What we know and don’t know, vulnerable/sensitive groups, short and long term effects of wildfire smoke and individual characteristics that affect this risk, respirator use, what to do before, during, and after smoke events.
In this episode, I reference the ATS standard of 11ug/m3 for PM2.5 exposure. ATS has submitted testimony to the EPA asking the EPA to consider a standard of 8ug/m3 because of adverse health effects even below the 11ug/m3 standard.
More information:
- For more on the cardiac death study, listen to the Season 1 Episode 11 Apocalypse Now
- For information on clean indoor air, listen to S1 E13 with Prof Elliot Gall. You can also see his post here on how to make a clean air room.
- For more information on the long-term effects of wildfire smoke, listen to S1 E18 with Prof Chris Migliaccio
- For more information about outdoor work, listen to S1 E 14 with Prof Alya Khan.
- Each of those episodes also have links to references and things you can do.
To Do:
1- Identify whether you or a loved one are in a sensitive group for particulate matter.
2- Make a plan before wildfire season about the health of you and your family members. If you are going to get a respirator, make sure it is NIOSH certified here or here.
3- Make sure you have a plan for clean air in case of smoke events
4- Donate to Neighbors for Clean Air, or Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, who hosted the webinar Our Health in Wildfire Season
5- Donate to PCUN- working to keep outdoor workers safe
6- Get your COVID19 vaccine if you have not done so, and your booster if you are a member of a recommended group. We are all in this together. Find out more from the American Lung Association here.
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Visit blog post for more information, or go to airhealthourhealth.org.