Key Factors Affecting Chemistry and Toxicity of Wildfire Smoke, 36th Annual Meeting of the Allegheny - Erie Society of Toxicology Regional Chapter, Morgantown, West Virginia
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ABSTRACT: Wildland fires are increasing in size and incidence across the world. Moreover, structures and other manmade objects at or near the wildland urban interphase are increasingly being involved in these fires raising the possibility for more toxic emissions from these combustion episodes but this is not well understood. This presentation will introduce (1) how smoke emissions vary between the different types of wildland fires (peat fires and forest fires) and the health consequences of exposure to the smoke emissions, (2) how photochemical aging of wildfire smoke affects the chemistry and resulting toxicity of these substances, and (3) how exposure duration/particle filtration affect these effects. Also this presentation will provide information of the health hazards associated with combustion of structures during and after wildfire events, and discuss how toxicology can inform early decision making for public health protection.