Environmental Factor – May 2021: Wildfires intensify, experts call for coordinated federal response

Ahead of the bushfire season expected to be among the worst, the American Thoracic Society The ATS report calls for a unified federal response to wildfires with several components:

• Invest in research and prediction of smoke exposure.
• Invest in research on the health effects of smoke.
• Evaluation of interventions.
• A clear and coordinated communication strategy to protect public health.

the report, Respiratory effects of wildland fire smoke: future challenges and policy opportunities, published online May 3 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. It is the result of a 2019 workshop with a multidisciplinary group of 19 experts, including pediatric and adult pulmonologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, public health officials, and wildland fire managers.

Both firefighters and people who live and work near an outbreak of fires may inhale complex mixtures of chemicals and particulates. (Photo courtesy of Toa55 / Shutterstock.com)

exacerbation of severity

The report comes at a time when the United States is experiencing an increased frequency of very destructive wildfires, due to years of fire suppression, population expansion and a prolonged fire season due to climate change.

• camp fire 2018 California is believed to be the deadliest in state history.
• Parts of the Midwest have also suffered record fire devastation.
• Breathing fire smoke can have serious health consequences, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Less understated is that plumes of smoke can travel hundreds and even thousands of miles, affecting areas where you may not even be aware of smoke and its effect on air quality.

Prior to taking over as Acting Deputy Director, Coleman ran the Institute’s Department of Research and Training outside the Institute’s walls. (Photo courtesy of Gwen Coleman)

Acting NIEHS Deputy Director Gwen Coleman, Ph.D., participated in the 2019 workshop and is a co-author of the report.

“Given the increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of wildland fires experienced in many parts of our country, it is critical to take a multidisciplinary research approach to understand the components of fire science, human exposure near and far from the fire site, and health impacts in order to protect the most vulnerable populations.”

“This workshop brought together firefighting scientists with state and local public health and clinical experts to discuss tools and methods that may lead to predictions of future fire seasons that can help reduce impacts,” Coleman added.

The report highlighted the need for further research, specifically “the effects of long-term and frequent pollution of wildland fire smoke on respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and psychological health across life stages, including development of fetuses and children”, as well as of firefighters.

complex exposure

“Wildfires release complex mixtures of particulates and gases into the air that, when inhaled, can harm the lungs and cardiovascular system in a number of ways,” said the lead author. Mary Rice, MD, a pulmonologist at Harvard University. “We see the health effects of bushfire pollution in terms of increased frequent asthma symptoms, emergency visits and hospitalizations for asthma and COPD, and higher mortality during smoke events.”

Children, whose lungs are still developing, and adults with lung disease are among the most at risk, especially in areas that experience fires year after year. Firefighters are frequently exposed to high levels of smoke, often with little respiratory protection. The report emphasized that little is known about the long-term consequences of repeated exposure to smoke, or the potential benefits of interventions to reduce health effects.

In September 2020, smoke covered a Portland, Oregon neighborhoodindicating exposures that even people are far from wildfires You may encounter. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Lennox)

Broad participation is needed

The report’s authors emphasized that a coordinated approach across agencies is necessary to assess the health risks of wildland fires and, ultimately, to develop strategies to manage that risk.

A co-author said: “Air pollution from wildfires is crossing economic boundaries and lines.” Dan Costa, SC.from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Therefore, dedicated research funding and ongoing support from the federal government are needed to fill knowledge gaps, including the development of fire management models as well as assessment of toxicity levels and interventions.”

Despite the impact on public health, the authors found that the public and even many clinicians Assessment of health risks and consequences Exposure to wildfire smoke was nonexistent. “The air quality problem from bushfire smoke is only going to get worse,” Rice said. “The medical community needs evidence-based guidance to protect patients and their families from the harms of smoke inhalation.”

the quote: Rice MP, Henderson SP, Lambert AA, Cromar CR, Hall JA, Cassio Wei, Smith BG, Marsh BJ, Quefield S, Palmis JR, Kamal A, Gilmore ME, Carlsten C, Navarro KM, Coleman J W, Rabold A, Miller MD, Stone SL, Costa DL; On behalf of the Environmental Health Policy Committee of the American Thoracic Society and the American Thoracic Society of Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health. 2021. Respiratory effects of wildland fire smoke: future challenges and policy opportunities. Ann Am Thorak Company; doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202102-148ST [Online 3 May 2021].

(This article is from May 3rd press release by the American Thoracic Society.)

from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/environmental-factor-may-2021-wildfires-intensify-experts-call-for-coordinated-federal-response/