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Berns K, Haertel AJ. Excess prenatal loss and respiratory illnesses of infant macaques living outdoors and exposed to wildfire smoke. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23605. [PMID: 38342984 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Global climate change has transformed predictions of fire seasons in the near future, and record-breaking wildfire events have had catastrophic consequences in recent years. In September 2020, multiple wildfires subjected Oregon to hazardous air quality for several days. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to examine prenatal loss, morbidity, and mortality of rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) exposed to poor air quality from the nearby wildfires. Detailed medical records from 2014 to 2020 of 580 macaques housed outdoors at a research facility in Beaverton, Oregon were used to evaluate the association between these health outcomes and wildfire smoke exposure. Logistic regression models estimated excess prenatal loss, hospitalization rates, respiratory problems, and mortality during and following the wildfire event, and Kruskal-Wallis statistics were used to determine if infant growth was affected by wildfire smoke exposure. Risk of pregnancy loss (relative risk = 4.1; p < 0.001) and odds of diagnosis with a respiratory problem (odds ratio = 4.47; p = 0.003) were higher in exposed infant macaques compared to nonexposed infants. Infant growth was not affected by poor air quality exposure. Our findings suggest wildfire smoke exposure poses a risk to the health of infants and pregnant individuals and should be monitored more closely in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Berns
- Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Andrew J Haertel
- Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Barkoski J, Van Fleet E, Liu A, Ramsey S, Kwok RK, Miller AK. Data Linkages for Wildfire Exposures and Human Health Studies: A Scoping Review. Geohealth 2024; 8:e2023GH000991. [PMID: 38487553 PMCID: PMC10937504 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, with significant consequences that impact human health. A scoping review was conducted to: (a) understand wildfire-related health effects, (b) identify and describe environmental exposure and health outcome data sources used to research the impacts of wildfire exposures on health, and (c) identify gaps and opportunities to leverage exposure and health data to advance research. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and a sample of 83 articles met inclusion criteria. A majority of studies focused on respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Hospital administrative data was the most common health data source, followed by government data sources and health surveys. Wildfire smoke, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), was the most common exposure measure and was predominantly estimated from monitoring networks and satellite data. Health data were not available in real-time, and they lacked spatial and temporal coverage to study health outcomes with longer latency periods. Exposure data were often available in real-time and provided better temporal and spatial coverage but did not capture the complex mixture of hazardous wildfire smoke pollutants nor exposures associated with non-air pathways such as soil, household dust, food, and water. This scoping review of the specific health and exposure data sources used to underpin these studies provides a framework for the research community to understand: (a) the use and value of various environmental and health data sources, and (b) the opportunities for improving data collection, integration, and accessibility to help inform our understanding of wildfires and other environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Barkoski
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - E. Van Fleet
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - A. Liu
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
- Kelly Government SolutionsRockvilleMDUSA
| | - S. Ramsey
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - R. K. Kwok
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - A. K. Miller
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
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Villarruel CM, Figueroa LA, Ranville JF. Quantification of Bioaccessible and Environmentally Relevant Trace Metals in Structure Ash from a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:2502-2513. [PMID: 38277687 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are increasing in frequency and intensity, driven by climate change and anthropogenic ignitions. Few studies have characterized the variability in the metal content in ash generated from burned structures in order to determine the potential risk to human and environmental health. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we analyzed leachable trace metal concentration in soils and ash from structures burned by the Marshall Fire, a WUI fire that destroyed over 1000 structures in Boulder County, Colorado. Acid digestion revealed that ash derived from structures contained 22 times more Cu and 3 times more Pb on average than surrounding soils on a mg/kg basis. Ash liberated 12 times more Ni (mg/kg) and twice as much Cr (mg/kg) as soils in a water leach. By comparing the amount of acid-extractable metals to that released by water and simulated epithelial lung fluid (SELF), we estimated their potential for environmental mobility and human bioaccessibility. The SELF leach showed that Cu and Ni were more bioaccessible (mg of leachable metal/mg of acid-extractable metal) in ash than in soils. These results suggest that structure ash is an important source of trace metals that can negatively impact the health of both humans and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Villarruel
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Linda A Figueroa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - James F Ranville
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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Mendoza DL, Hill LD, Blair J, Crosman ET. A Long-Term Comparison between the AethLabs MA350 and Aerosol Magee Scientific AE33 Black Carbon Monitors in the Greater Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area. Sensors (Basel) 2024; 24:965. [PMID: 38339682 PMCID: PMC10857035 DOI: 10.3390/s24030965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Black carbon (BC) or soot contains ultrafine combustion particles that are associated with a wide range of health impacts, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Both long-term and short-term health impacts of BC have been documented, with even low-level exposures to BC resulting in negative health outcomes for vulnerable groups. Two aethalometers-AethLabs MA350 and Aerosol Magee Scientific AE33-were co-located at a Utah Division of Air Quality site in Bountiful, Utah for just under a year. The aethalometer comparison showed a close relationship between instruments for IR BC, Blue BC, and fossil fuel source-specific BC estimates. The biomass source-specific BC estimates were markedly different between instruments at the minute and hour scale but became more similar and perhaps less-affected by high-leverage outliers at the daily time scale. The greater inter-device difference for biomass BC may have been confounded by very low biomass-specific BC concentrations during the study period. These findings at a mountainous, high-elevation, Greater Salt Lake City Area site support previous study results and broaden the body of evidence validating the performance of the MA350.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Mendoza
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 E, Room 819, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Pulmonary Division, School of Medicine, University of Utah, 26 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 375 S 1530 E, Suite 220, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - L. Drew Hill
- AethLabs, 3085 21st Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; (L.D.H.); (J.B.)
| | - Jeffrey Blair
- AethLabs, 3085 21st Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; (L.D.H.); (J.B.)
| | - Erik T. Crosman
- Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences, West Texas A&M University, Natural Sciences Building 324, Canyon, TX 79016, USA;
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Jung J, Wilkins JL, Schollaert CL, Masuda YJ, Flunker JC, Connolly RE, D'Evelyn SM, Bonillia E, Rappold AG, Haugo RD, Marlier ME, Spector JT. Advancing the community health vulnerability index for wildland fire smoke exposure. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167834. [PMID: 37839481 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire smoke risks are not uniformly distributed across people and places, and the most vulnerable communities are often disproportionately impacted. This study develops a county level community health vulnerability index (CHVI) for the Contiguous United States (CONUS) using three major vulnerability components: adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure at the national and regional level. We first calculated sensitivity and adaptive capacity sub-indices using nine sensitivity and twenty adaptive capacity variables. These sub-indices were then combined with an exposure sub-index, which is based on the Community Multiscale Air Quality data (2008-2018), to develop CHVI. Finally, we conducted several analyses with the derived indices to: 1) explore associations between the level of fine particulate matter from wildland fires (fire-PM2.5) and the sub-indices/CHVI; 2) measure the impact of fire-PM2.5 on the increase in the annual number of days with 12-35 μg/m3 (moderate) and >35 μg/m3 (at or above unhealthy for sensitive groups) based on the US EPA Air Quality Index categories, and 3) calculate population size in different deciles of the sub-indices/CHVI. This study has three main findings. First, we showed that the counties with higher daily fire-PM2.5 concentration tend to have lower adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity and vulnerability. Relatedly, the counties at high risk tended to experience a greater increase in the annual number of days with 12-35 μg/m3 and >35 μg/m3 than their counterparts. Second, we found that 16.1, 12.0, and 17.6 million people out of 332 million in CONUS reside in the counties in the lowest adaptive capacity decile, highest sensitivity decile, and highest vulnerability decile, respectively. Third, we identified that the US Northwest, California, and Southern regions tended to have higher vulnerability than others. Accurately identifying a community's vulnerability to wildfire smoke can help individuals, researchers, and policymakers better understand, prepare for, and respond to future wildland fire events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Jung
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Joseph L Wilkins
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA; School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire L Schollaert
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yuta J Masuda
- Partnerships and Programs, Vulcan LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John C Flunker
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel E Connolly
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Savannah M D'Evelyn
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eimy Bonillia
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ana G Rappold
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Miriam E Marlier
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - June T Spector
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Parker M, Ybarra-Vega MJ, Postma J. Agricultural Worker Perspectives on Climate Hazards and Risk Reduction Strategies. J Agromedicine 2023:1-11. [PMID: 38153099 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2023.2299378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of agricultural workers during periods of heat and wildfire smoke exposure and to support the development and implementation of protective workplace interventions. METHODS Using community-engaged research and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) framework for policy evaluation, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted with current and former agricultural workers in Central Washington (WA). Twelve participants answered semi-structured questions via interviews or by attending a focus group. Interviews and focus groups were conducted in Spanish, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English; one interview was conducted in English. RESULTS Using Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis, five themes were identified among workers from various worksites: 1) Extreme weather and working conditions are becoming increasingly hazardous to worker health, 2) Employers and supervisors lack training and education on current labor laws, and health and safety rules, 3) Employers and supervisors use intimidation and retaliation to ensure productivity and to evoke feelings of replaceability among workers, 4) Workers do not trust regulatory agencies to enforce rules or hold employers accountable, 5) Solutions to climate-driven problems in the agricultural industry need to value worker health and safety, not just productivity. Participants reported experiencing adverse health symptoms related to heat and smoke exposure at work. Workers proposed solutions including improving education, training, and communication, and increased enforcement of existing and forthcoming occupational health and safety rules. CONCLUSION The agricultural workforce is essential for ensuring a robust food supply and is facing extreme weather events due to climate change. Western states impacted by wildfires and heat are working to develop and implement occupational health and safety rules. Developing effective policies and interventions inclusive of worker perspectives is critical to adapt to a changing climate, retain a stable workforce and promote optimal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Parker
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, USA
| | - Mary Jo Ybarra-Vega
- Outreach & Behavioral Health, Moses Lake Community Health Center, Moses Lake, WA, USA
| | - Julie Postma
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, USA
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Ivančič M, Rigler M, Alföldy B, Lavrič G, Ježek Brecelj I, Gregorič A. Highly Time-Resolved Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols from Wildfire Using the TC-BC Method: Camp Fire 2018 Case Study. Toxics 2023; 11:497. [PMID: 37368597 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The Camp Fire was one of California's deadliest and most destructive wildfires, and its widespread smoke threatened human health over a large area in Northern California in November 2018. To analyze the Camp Fire influence on air quality on a 200 km distant site in Berkeley, highly time-resolved total carbon (TC), black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) were measured using the Carbonaceous Aerosol Speciation System (CASS, Aerosol Magee Scientific), comprising two instruments, a Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08 in tandem with an Aethalometer AE33. During the period when the air quality was affected by wildfire smoke, the BC concentrations increased four times above the typical air pollution level presented in Berkeley before and after the event, and the OC increased approximately ten times. High-time-resolution measurements allow us to study the aging of OC and investigate how the characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols evolve over the course of the fire event. A higher fraction of secondary carbonaceous aerosols was observed in the later phase of the fire. At the same time, the amount of light-absorbing organic aerosol (brown carbon) declined with time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Asta Gregorič
- Aerosol d.o.o., SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Nova Gorica, SI-5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
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Martenies SE, Wilson A, Hoskovec L, Bol KA, Burket TL, Podewils LJ, Magzamen S. The COVID-19-wildfire smoke paradox: Reduced risk of all-cause mortality due to wildfire smoke in Colorado during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Environ Res 2023; 225:115591. [PMID: 36878268 PMCID: PMC9985917 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020, the American West faced two competing challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst wildfire season on record. Several studies have investigated the impact of wildfire smoke (WFS) on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, but little is known about how these two public health challenges impact mortality risk for other causes. OBJECTIVES Using a time-series design, we evaluated how daily risk of mortality due to WFS exposure differed for periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Our study included daily data for 11 counties in the Front Range region of Colorado (2010-2020). We assessed WFS exposure using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and used mortality counts from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. We estimated the interaction between WFS and the pandemic (an indicator variable) on mortality risk using generalized additive models adjusted for year, day of week, fine particulate matter, ozone, temperature, and a smoothed term for day of year. RESULTS WFS impacted the study area on 10% of county-days. We observed a positive association between the presence of WFS and all-cause mortality risk (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.04 for same-day exposures) during the period before the pandemic; however, WFS exposure during the pandemic resulted in decreased risk of all-cause mortality (IRR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.87-0.93 for same-day exposures). DISCUSSION We hypothesize that mitigation efforts during the first year of the pandemic, e.g., mask mandates, along with high ambient WFS levels encouraged health behaviors that reduced exposure to WFS and reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Our results suggest a need to examine how associations between WFS and mortality are impacted by pandemic-related factors and that there may be lessons from the pandemic that could be translated into health-protective policies during future wildfire events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Ander Wilson
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lauren Hoskovec
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kirk A Bol
- Center for Health and Environmental Data, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Tori L Burket
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Laura Jean Podewils
- Center for Health Systems Research, Denver Health Office of Research, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Lee MJ, McLean KE, Kuo M, Richardson GRA, Henderson SB. Chronic Diseases Associated With Mortality in British Columbia, Canada During the 2021 Western North America Extreme Heat Event. Geohealth 2023; 7:e2022GH000729. [PMID: 36938119 PMCID: PMC10015851 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Western North America experienced an unprecedented extreme heat event (EHE) in 2021, characterized by high temperatures and reduced air quality. There were approximately 740 excess deaths during the EHE in the province of British Columbia, making it one of the deadliest weather events in Canadian history. It is important to understand who is at risk of death during EHEs so that appropriate public health interventions can be developed. This study compares 1,614 deaths from 25 June to 02 July 2021 with 6,524 deaths on the same dates from 2012 to 2020 to examine differences in the prevalence of 26 chronic diseases between the two groups. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for each chronic disease, adjusted for age, sex, and all other diseases, and conditioned on geographic area. The OR [95% confidence interval] for schizophrenia among all EHE deaths was 3.07 [2.39, 3.94], and was larger than the ORs for other conditions. Chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease were also significantly increased among all EHE deaths, with ORs of 1.36 [1.18, 1.56] and 1.18 [1.00, 1.38], respectively. Chronic diseases associated with EHE mortality were somewhat different for deaths attributed to extreme heat, deaths with an unknown/pending cause, and non-heat-related deaths. Schizophrenia was the only condition associated with significantly increased odds of EHE mortality in all three subgroups. These results confirm the role of mental illness in EHE risk and provide further impetus for interventions that target specific groups of high-risk individuals based on underlying chronic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Joseph Lee
- Environmental Health ServicesBritish Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverBCCanada
| | - Kathleen E. McLean
- Environmental Health ServicesBritish Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverBCCanada
| | - Michael Kuo
- Environmental Health ServicesBritish Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverBCCanada
| | | | - Sarah B. Henderson
- Environmental Health ServicesBritish Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverBCCanada
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Jung AM, Jahnke SA, Dennis LK, Bell ML, Burgess JL, Farland LV. Firefighter occupational factors and the risk of preterm birth: results from a survey of women firefighters in the USA. Occup Environ Med 2023; 80:77-85. [PMID: 36564180 PMCID: PMC9887375 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2022-108332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has suggested that women firefighters may have a greater risk of adverse reproductive outcomes compared with non-firefighting women. In this study, we investigated the association between firefighter occupational factors and risk of preterm birth. METHODS This cross-sectional analysis of US firefighters surveyed in 2017 compared preterm birth among firefighters to non-firefighters using age-at-pregnancy-standardised prevalence ratios. Generalised estimating equations estimated relative risks and 95% CIs between firefighter occupational factors (career or volunteer, wildland status, shift schedule, fire responses, work restriction) and preterm birth risk. We adjusted for age-at-pregnancy, education, gravidity, BMI, and smoking and considered effect modification by age-at-pregnancy and career versus volunteer status. RESULTS Among 934 women who reported 1356 live births, 12% were preterm (n=161). Preterm birth prevalence among firefighters was 1.41 times greater than non-firefighters (95% CI 1.18 to 1.68). Among wildland and combination wildland/structural firefighters, volunteers had 2.82 times the risk of preterm birth (95% CI 1.19 to 6.67) compared with career firefighters. Firefighters who started restricting their work in the 2nd trimester had a nonsignificant 0.67 times lower risk of preterm birth than those who started in the 3rd trimester or did not restrict work at all (95% CI 0.43 to 1.03). CONCLUSIONS Firefighters may have greater risk of preterm birth than non-firefighters, which could be influenced by roles in the fire service and work restrictions taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alesia M Jung
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA .,Department of Community, Environment and Policy, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sara A Jahnke
- Center for Fire Rescue and EMS Health Research, NDRI-USA, Inc, Leawood, Kansas, USA
| | - Leslie K Dennis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Melanie L Bell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jefferey L Burgess
- Department of Community, Environment and Policy, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Leslie V Farland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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11
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Pace A, Villamediana P, Rezamand P, Skibiel AL. Effects of wildfire smoke PM2.5 on indicators of inflammation, health, and metabolism of preweaned Holstein heifers. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad246. [PMID: 37465977 PMCID: PMC10449420 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildfires are a growing concern as large, catastrophic fires are becoming more commonplace. Wildfire smoke consists of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can cause immune responses and disease in humans. However, the present knowledge of the effects of wildfire PM2.5 on dairy cattle is sparse. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of wildfire-PM2.5 exposure on dairy calf health and performance. Preweaned Holstein heifers (N = 15) were assessed from birth through weaning, coinciding with the 2021 wildfire season. Respiratory rate, heart rate, rectal temperatures, and health scores were recorded and blood samples were collected weekly or twice a week for analysis of hematology, blood metabolites, and acute phase proteins. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological data were obtained, and temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated. Contribution of wildfires to PM2.5 fluxes were determined utilizing AirNowTech Navigator and HYSPLIT modeling. Mixed models were used for data analysis, with separate models for lags of up to 7 d, and fixed effects of daily average PM2.5, THI, and PM2.5 × THI, and calf as a random effect. THI ranged from 48 to 73, while PM2.5 reached concentrations up to 118.8 µg/m3 during active wildfires. PM2.5 and THI positively interacted to elevate respiratory rate, heart rate, rectal temperature, and eosinophils on lag day 0 (day of exposure; all P < 0.05). There was a negative interactive effect of PM2.5 and THI on lymphocytes after a 2-d lag (P = 0.03), and total white blood cells, neutrophils, hemoglobin, and hematocrit after a 3-d lag (all P < 0.02), whereas there was a positive interactive effect on cough scores and eye scores on lag day 3 (all P < 0.02). Glucose and NEFA were increased as a result of combined elevated PM2.5 and THI on lag day 1, whereas BHB was decreased (all P < 0.05). Contrarily, on lag day 3 and 6, there was a negative interactive effect of PM2.5 and THI on glucose and NEFA, but a positive interactive effect on BHB (all P < 0.03). Serum amyloid A was decreased whereas haptoglobin was increased with elevated PM2.5 and THI together on lag days 0 to 4 (all P < 0.05). These findings indicate that exposure to wildfire-derived PM2.5, along with increased THI during the summer months, elicits negative effects on preweaned calf health and performance both during and following exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pace
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Patricia Villamediana
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Pedram Rezamand
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Amy L Skibiel
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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12
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Huang CS, Liao HT, Lu SH, Chan CC, Wu CF. Identifying and quantifying PM 2.5 pollution episodes with a fusion method of moving window technique and constrained Positive Matrix Factorization. Environ Pollut 2022; 315:120382. [PMID: 36220571 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
PM2.5 pollution episodes rapidly and significantly deteriorate the air quality and are a critical concern worldwide. This study developed a fusion method based on the moving window dataset technique and constrained Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to differentiate and characterize potential factors in a PM2.5 episode case assuming having one new contributor. The hourly PM2.5 compositions of elements, ions and carbonaceous components, were collected from September to December 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan. Constraint targets based on the bootstrap analysis result of a PMF model using a long-term input dataset were imposed on the modeling of each moving window to ensure similar features of the retrieved factors. The constituents of an additionally differentiated factor to the episode, which was identified as regional transport, were stable among each moving window that covered the occurrence of the episode as revealed by the profile matching index. The results showed that the largest contributor to the PM2.5 mass during the episode period of 12/12/2020 was regional transport (61%), whereas that of 12/13 was the regular pollution of industry/ammonium sulfate related (43%). According to our review of the literature, this study is the first to apply both the moving window technique and constrained PMF to characterize the episode. The findings provide valuable information that can be used to explore the causes of PM2.5 episodes and implement air pollution control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Sheng Huang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ho-Tang Liao
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Hao Lu
- LE & DER Instrument Co. Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Fu Wu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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13
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Barkjohn KK, Holder AL, Frederick SG, Clements AL. Correction and Accuracy of PurpleAir PM 2.5 Measurements for Extreme Wildfire Smoke. Sensors (Basel) 2022; 22:s22249669. [PMID: 36560038 PMCID: PMC9784900 DOI: 10.3390/s22249669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
PurpleAir particulate matter (PM) sensors are increasingly used in the United States and other countries for real-time air quality information, particularly during wildfire smoke episodes. Uncorrected PurpleAir data can be biased and may exhibit a nonlinear response at extreme smoke concentrations (>300 µg/m3). This bias and nonlinearity result in a disagreement with the traditional ambient monitoring network, leading to the public’s confusion during smoke episodes. These sensors must be evaluated during smoke-impacted times and then corrected for bias, to ensure that accurate data are reported. The nearby public PurpleAir sensor and monitor pairs were identified during the summer of 2020 and were used to supplement the data from collocated pairs to develop an extended U.S.-wide correction for high concentrations. We evaluated several correction schemes to identify an optimal correction, using the previously developed U.S.-wide correction, up to 300 µg/m3, transitioning to a quadradic fit above 400 µg/m3. The correction reduces the bias at each air quality index (AQI) breakpoint; most ambient collocations that were studied met the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) performance targets (twelve of the thirteen ambient sensors met the EPA’s targets) and some smoke-impacted sites (5 out of 15 met the EPA’s performance targets in terms of the 1-h averages). This correction can also be used to improve the comparability of PurpleAir sensor data with regulatory-grade monitors when they are collectively analyzed or shown together on public information websites; the methods developed in this paper can also be used to correct future air-sensor types. The PurpleAir network is already filling in spatial and temporal gaps in the regulatory monitoring network and providing valuable air-quality information during smoke episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline K. Barkjohn
- US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
| | - Amara L. Holder
- US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
| | - Samuel G. Frederick
- Former ORAU Student Services Contractor, US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
- Currently Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Andrea L. Clements
- US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27711, USA
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14
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Campbell PC, Tong D, Saylor R, Li Y, Ma S, Zhang X, Kondragunta S, Li F. Pronounced increases in nitrogen emissions and deposition due to the historic 2020 wildfires in the western U.S. Sci Total Environ 2022; 839:156130. [PMID: 35609700 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire outbreaks can lead to extreme biomass burning (BB) emissions of both oxidized (e.g., nitrogen oxides; NOx = NO+NO2) and reduced form (e.g., ammonia; NH3) nitrogen (N) compounds. High N emissions are major concerns for air quality, atmospheric deposition, and consequential human and ecosystem health impacts. In this study, we use both satellite-based observations and modeling results to quantify the contribution of BB to the total emissions, and approximate the impact on total N deposition in the western U.S. Our results show that during the 2020 wildfire season of August-October, BB contributes significantly to the total emissions, with a satellite-derived fraction of NH3 to the total reactive N emissions (median ~ 40%) in the range of aircraft observations. During the peak of the western August Complex Fires in September, BB contributed to ~55% (for the contiguous U.S.) and ~ 83% (for the western U.S.) of the monthly total NOx and NH3 emissions. Overall, there is good model performance of the George Mason University-Wildfire Forecasting System (GMU-WFS) used in this work. The extreme BB emissions lead to significant contributions to the total N deposition for different ecosystems in California, with an average August - October 2020 relative increase of ~78% (from 7.1 to 12.6 kg ha-1 year-1) in deposition rate to major vegetation types (mixed forests + grasslands/shrublands/savanna) compared to the GMU-WFS simulations without BB emissions. For mixed forest types only, the average N deposition rate increases (from 6.2 to 16.9 kg ha-1 year-1) are even larger at ~173%. Such large N deposition due to extreme BB emissions are much (~6-12 times) larger than low-end critical load thresholds for major vegetation types (e.g., forests at 1.5-3 kg ha-1 year-1), and thus may result in adverse N deposition effects across larger areas of lichen communities found in California's mixed conifer forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Campbell
- Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems/Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA; Office of Air and Radiation, Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Daniel Tong
- Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems/Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA; Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Rick Saylor
- Office of Air and Radiation, Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yunyao Li
- Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Siqi Ma
- Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Xiaoyang Zhang
- Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence, Department of Geography & Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Shobha Kondragunta
- NOAA Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Fangjun Li
- Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence, Department of Geography & Geospatial Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
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15
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Dickinson GN, Miller DD, Bajracharya A, Bruchard W, Durbin TA, McGarry JKP, Moser EP, Nuñez LA, Pukkila EJ, Scott PS, Sutton PJ, Johnston NAC. Health Risk Implications of Volatile Organic Compounds in Wildfire Smoke During the 2019 FIREX-AQ Campaign and Beyond. Geohealth 2022; 6:e2021GH000546. [PMID: 36017488 PMCID: PMC9393878 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality was a NOAA/NASA collaborative campaign conducted during the summer of 2019. The objectives included identifying and quantifying wildfire composition, smoke evolution, and climate and health impacts of wildfires and agricultural fires in the United States. Ground based mobile sampling via sorbent tubes occurred at the Nethker and Williams Flats fires (2019) and Chief Timothy and Whitetail Loop fires (2020) in Idaho and Washington. Air samples were analyzed through thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for a variety of volatile organic compounds to elucidate both composition and health impacts. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, butenes, phenol, isoprene and pinenes were observed in the wildfire smoke, with benzene ranging from 0.04 to 25 ppbv. Health risk was assessed for each fire by determining sub-chronic (wildfire event) and projected chronic inhalation risk exposure from benzene, a carcinogen, as well as other non-carcinogenic compounds including toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and hexane. The cancer risk of benzene from sub-chronic exposure was 1 extra cancer per million people and ranged from 1 to 19 extra cancers per million people for the projected chronic scenarios, compared to a background level of 1 extra cancer per million people. The hazard index of non-carcinogenic compounds was less than one for all scenarios and wildfires sampled, which was considered low risk for non-cancer health events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle N. Dickinson
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Dylan D. Miller
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Aakriti Bajracharya
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - William Bruchard
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Timbre A. Durbin
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - John K. P. McGarry
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Elijah P. Moser
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Laurel A. Nuñez
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Elias J. Pukkila
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Phillip S. Scott
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Parke J. Sutton
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
| | - Nancy A. C. Johnston
- Physical, Life, Movement, and Sport Sciences DivisionLewis‐Clark State CollegeLewistonIDUSA
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16
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Schuller A, Walker ES, Goodrich JM, Lundgren M, Montrose L. Indoor Air Quality Considerations for Laboratory Animals in Wildfire-Impacted Regions-A Pilot Study. Toxics 2022; 10:toxics10070387. [PMID: 35878291 PMCID: PMC9315628 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10070387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire events are increasing across the globe. The smoke generated as a result of this changing fire landscape is potentially more toxic than air pollution from other ambient sources, according to recent studies. This is especially concerning for populations of humans or animals that live downwind of areas that burn frequently, given that ambient exposure to wildfire smoke cannot be easily eliminated. We hypothesized that a significant indoor air pollution risk existed for laboratory animal facilities located proximal to fire-prone areas. Here, we measured real time continuous outdoor and indoor air quality for 28 days at a laboratory animal facility located in the Rocky Mountain region. We demonstrated that during a wildfire event, the indoor air quality of this animal facility is influenced by ambient smoke events. The daily average indoor fine particulate matter value in an animal room exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's ambient annual standard 14% of the time and exceeded the World Health Organization's ambient annual guideline 71% of the time. We further show that specialized cage filtration systems are capable of mitigating air pollution penetrance and could improve an animal's microenvironment. The potential effects for laboratory animal physiology that occur in response to the exposure levels and durations measured in this study remain to be determined; yet, even acute wildfire exposure events have been previously correlated with significant differences in gene regulatory and metabolic processes in vivo. We believe these findings warrant consideration for indoor laboratory animal facility air quality monitoring and development of smoke exposure prevention and response protocols, especially among facilities located downwind of fire-prone landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Schuller
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Program, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Ethan S. Walker
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA;
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Matthew Lundgren
- Office of Research Compliance, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Luke Montrose
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(208)-426-3979
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17
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Zuidema C, Austin E, Cohen MA, Kasner E, Liu L, Busch Isaksen T, Lin KY, Spector J, Seto E. Potential impacts of Washington State's wildfire worker protection rule on construction workers. Ann Work Expo Health 2022; 66:419-432. [PMID: 34935028 PMCID: PMC9030230 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Driven by climate change, wildfires are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity across the Western United States. Outdoor workers are being exposed to increasing wildfire-related particulate matter and smoke. Recognizing this emerging risk, Washington adopted an emergency rule and is presently engaged in creating a permanent rule to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke exposure. While there are growing bodies of literature on the exposure to and health effects of wildfire smoke in the general public and wildland firefighters, there is a gap in knowledge about wildfire smoke exposure among outdoor workers generally and construction workers specifically-a large category of outdoor workers in Washington totaling 200,000 people. Several data sources were linked in this study-including state-collected employment data and national ambient air quality data-to gain insight into the risk of PM2.5 exposure among construction workers and evaluate the impacts of different air quality thresholds that would have triggered a new Washington emergency wildfire smoke rule aimed at protecting workers from high PM2.5 exposure. Results indicate the number of poor air quality days has increased in August and September in recent years. Over the last decade, these months with the greatest potential for particulate matter exposure coincided with an annual peak in construction employment that was typically 9.4-42.7% larger across Washington counties (one county was 75.8%). Lastly, the 'encouraged' threshold of the Washington emergency rule (20.5 μg m-3) would have resulted in 5.5 times more days subject to the wildfire rule on average across all Washington counties compared to its 'required' threshold (55.5 μg m-3), and in 2020, the rule could have created demand for 1.35 million N-95 filtering facepiece respirators among construction workers. These results have important implications for both employers and policy makers as rules are developed. The potential policy implications of wildfire smoke exposure, exposure control strategies, and data gaps that would improve understanding of construction worker exposure to wildfire smoke are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Zuidema
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elena Austin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Martin A Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Edward Kasner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lilian Liu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tania Busch Isaksen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ken-Yu Lin
- Department of Construction Management, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - June Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Edmund Seto
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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18
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Scieszka D, Hunter R, Begay J, Bitsui M, Lin Y, Galewsky J, Morishita M, Klaver Z, Wagner J, Harkema JR, Herbert G, Lucas S, McVeigh C, Bolt A, Bleske B, Canal CG, Mostovenko E, Ottens AK, Gu H, Campen MJ, Noor S. Neuroinflammatory and Neurometabolomic Consequences From Inhaled Wildfire Smoke-Derived Particulate Matter in the Western United States. Toxicol Sci 2022; 186:149-162. [PMID: 34865172 PMCID: PMC8883349 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Utilizing a mobile laboratory located >300 km away from wildfire smoke (WFS) sources, this study examined the systemic immune response profile, with a focus on neuroinflammatory and neurometabolomic consequences, resulting from inhalation exposure to naturally occurring wildfires in California, Arizona, and Washington in 2020. After a 20-day (4 h/day) exposure period in a mobile laboratory stationed in New Mexico, WFS-derived particulate matter (WFPM) inhalation resulted in significant neuroinflammation while immune activity in the peripheral (lung, bone marrow) appeared to be resolved in C57BL/6 mice. Importantly, WFPM exposure increased cerebrovascular endothelial cell activation and expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) in addition to increased glial activation and peripheral immune cell infiltration into the brain. Flow cytometry analysis revealed proinflammatory phenotypes of microglia and peripheral immune subsets in the brain of WFPM-exposed mice. Interestingly, endothelial cell neuroimmune activity was differentially associated with levels of PECAM-1 expression, suggesting that subsets of cerebrovascular endothelial cells were transitioning to resolution of inflammation following the 20-day exposure. Neurometabolites related to protection against aging, such as NAD+ and taurine, were decreased by WFPM exposure. Additionally, increased pathological amyloid-beta protein accumulation, a hallmark of neurodegeneration, was observed. Neuroinflammation, together with decreased levels of key neurometabolites, reflect a cluster of outcomes with important implications in priming inflammaging and aging-related neurodegenerative phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Scieszka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Russell Hunter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Jessica Begay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Marsha Bitsui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Joseph Galewsky
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Masako Morishita
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Zachary Klaver
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - James Wagner
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jack R Harkema
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Guy Herbert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Selita Lucas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Charlotte McVeigh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Alicia Bolt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Barry Bleske
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Christopher G Canal
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Ekaterina Mostovenko
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Andrew K Ottens
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Haiwei Gu
- Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Matthew J Campen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Shahani Noor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
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19
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Johnson MM, Garcia‐Menendez F. Uncertainty in Health Impact Assessments of Smoke From a Wildfire Event. Geohealth 2022; 6:e2021GH000526. [PMID: 35024532 PMCID: PMC8724531 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires cause elevated air pollution that can be detrimental to human health. However, health impact assessments associated with emissions from wildfire events are subject to uncertainty arising from different sources. Here, we quantify and compare major uncertainties in mortality and morbidity outcomes of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution estimated for a series of wildfires in the Southeastern U.S. We present an approach to compare uncertainty in estimated health impacts specifically due to two driving factors, wildfire-related smoke PM2.5 fields and variability in concentration-response parameters from epidemiologic studies of ambient and smoke PM2.5. This analysis, focused on the 2016 Southeastern wildfires, suggests that emissions from these fires had public health consequences in North Carolina. Using several methods based on publicly available monitor data and atmospheric models to represent wildfire-attributable PM2.5, we estimate impacts on several health outcomes and quantify associated uncertainty. Multiple concentration-response parameters derived from studies of ambient and wildfire-specific PM2.5 are used to assess health-related uncertainty. Results show large variability and uncertainty in wildfire impact estimates, with comparable uncertainties due to the smoke pollution fields and health response parameters for some outcomes, but substantially larger health-related uncertainty for several outcomes. Consideration of these uncertainties can support efforts to improve estimates of wildfire impacts and inform fire-related decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Johnson
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - Fernando Garcia‐Menendez
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
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20
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Efimova NV, Rukavishnikov VS. Assessment of Smoke Pollution Caused by Wildfires in the Baikal Region (Russia). Atmosphere 2021; 12:1542. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12121542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Climate change has increased the prevalence of wildfires, resulting in longer fire seasons and larger geographic area burned. The aim of this work was to assess the air pollution and health risk to the population caused during exposure to smoke in fire season. The study design included: an analysis of long-term air pollution to determine background levels; an analysis of short-term (<24 h) and subchronic (10–14 days) concentrations during wildfires; and an assessment of the health risk in the industrial center of the Baikal region (Russia). In Irkutsk, at a distance of 2000 km from the fire focal points, the maximum short-term concentrations of pollution were noted during the smoke period, when the average CO level increased 2.4 times, and PM1 increased 1.4 times relative to the background levels in August 2021. In Bratsk, located near the fires, the increases in short-term concentrations were: CO—21.0; SO2—13.0; formaldehyde—12.0; TPM—4.4 times. The hazard indices of respiratory and coronary diseases in the burning period exceeded the acceptable level. Acute reactions to smoke can be expected in 30% of the exposed population near fires and 11% in remote areas (Bratsk). The results obtained from the remote sensing of atmospheric smoke can be used to urgently resolve the issue of organizing medical assistance or evacuating the population groups most sensitive to the effects of smoke in fire season.
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21
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Xu K, Chi Y, Ge R, Wang X, Liu S. Land use changes in Zhangjiakou from 2005 to 2025 and the importance of ecosystem services. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12122. [PMID: 34631313 PMCID: PMC8465993 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in local land use affect regional ecological services, development planning, and optimal use of space. We analyzed the effects of changes in land use from 2000 to 2025 on the spatial distribution of ecosystem services using CLUS-S modeling to evaluate ecosystem functions in Zhangjiakou, China. We found that the urban ecosystem area in Zhangjiakou increased and farmland decreased between 2000-2025. Water conservation was relatively high and was concentrated in the nature reserves of southern Zhangjiakou. Soil conservation was mainly distributed in eastern and southern counties. The results of the CLUE-S model showed that the relative operating characteristics of the six land use types were > 0.70, and the logistic regression equation was able to successfully explain the distribution pattern of the different types of land use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaipeng Xu
- Center of Eco-Environmental Zoning, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Chi
- Center of Eco-Environmental Zoning, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Rongfeng Ge
- Center of Eco-Environmental Zoning, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Xiahui Wang
- Center of Eco-Environmental Zoning, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Siyang Liu
- Center of Eco-Environmental Zoning, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, China
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22
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Wolhuter K, Arora M, Kovacic JC. Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: Can the Australian bushfires and global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 convince us to change our ways? Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100046. [PMID: 34106476 PMCID: PMC8209912 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is a major global challenge for a multitude of reasons. As a specific concern, there is now compelling evidence demonstrating a causal relationship between exposure to airborne pollutants and the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD). As such, reducing air pollution as a means to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality should be a global health priority. This review provides an overview of the cardiovascular effects of air pollution and uses two major events of 2020-the Australian bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic lockdown-to illustrate the relationship between air pollution and CVD. The bushfires highlight the substantial human and economic costs associated with elevations in air pollution. Conversely, the COVID-19-related lockdowns demonstrated that stringent measures are effective at reducing airborne pollutants, which in turn resulted in a potential reduction in cardiovascular events. Perhaps one positive to come out of 2020 will be the recognition that tough measures are effective at reducing air pollution and that these measures have the potential to stop thousands of deaths from CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Jason C. Kovacic
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research InstituteSydneyAustralia
- St Vincent's Clinical SchoolUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
- Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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