Informing public health protection under new patterns of wildfire smoke

This is an invited commentary by the journal - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) on a paper they recently accepted examining longer duration wildfire smoke exposure and mortality.  This commentary focuses on highlighting the recently accepted paper, Ma et al., putting the paper into context with respect to the broader body of literature examining longer duration smoke exposures and health, identifying areas for additional research, and ultimately how the collective information on longer duration smoke exposures can be used to better inform risk communication and public health action around smoke.

Impact/Purpose

This invited commentary highlights a recently accepted paper in the journal PNAS examining longer duration smoke exposures and health.  As the U.S. is experiencing these new and unique smoke exposure patterns, communities are experiencing more sustained smoke exposures that require new and innovative approaches to examine.  While Ma et al. represents one such approach, a broader body of science is needed to better inform risk communication and public health preparedness around smoke.  This commentary sheds light on the current state of science and what's needed in the future to continue to refine efforts to protect public health from wildfire smoke. 

Citation

Sacks, J. Informing public health protection under new patterns of wildfire smoke. National Academy of Sciences, WASHINGTON, DC, 121(51):e2418529121, (2024). [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2418529121]

DOI: Informing public health protection under new patterns of wildfire smoke