Overview of wildfire smoke and health impacts

Wildfire smoke is a national and international concern. As the intensity of wildfires has increased, public health impacts of smoke from these fires has risen as a concern for city, state, federal and tribal officials. Recently, EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has expanded efforts to work with a range of partners in conducting research focused on the needs of communities and tribes in responding to wildfire smoke. This presentation will 1) discuss the health impacts of wildfires and smoke on human health; 2) review the current recommendations on ways to reduce exposure, and 3) discuss US EPA’s current research and tools; all with the goal of setting the context for the following talks related to a solutions-driven research study related to wildfire smoke and health.

Impact/Purpose

EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has expanded efforts to work with a range of partners in conducting research focused on the needs of communities and tribes in responding to wildfire smoke. This session will discuss how EPA used a translational science framework, which aims to produce research that is driven primarily by stakeholder needs and their intended environmental or public health outcome.

Citation

Cascio, W. Overview of wildfire smoke and health impacts. American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Exposition (virtual), N/A, N/A, October 24 - 28, 2020.

• _APHA FINAL 508_TAGGED.PDF (PDF)  (NA  pp, 2.9 MB, about PDF)