Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
Understanding the Dangers in Our Air
Climate change relentlessly desiccates our environment, posing greater risks to our air quality every year, especially during wildfire season. Understanding the health risks of wildfire smoke can empower us to make changes in our community to advocate for cleaner air.
What’s in Wildfire Smoke?
Wildfire smoke consists primarily of particle pollution, which are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air (American Lung Association, 2016). These particles are hazardous to our health, not only because of what’s in them but because of their size.
The combustion particles created from wildfires and other chemical means can range from less than 10 microns to less than 2.5 microns, respectively (see figure below) (American Lung Association, 2023). That’s about 1/3 of the diameter of a human hair! These tiny particles bypass the body’s natural defense systems (coughing, sneezing, etc.), travel deep into the lungs, and straight into the bloodstream (American Lung Association, 2023). This can cause inflammation and many lung diseases, amongst other ailments. In addition to particulate matter causing health problems, toxic gasses and substances from wildfires can affect our health. These include carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, ammonia, elemental black carbon (soot), and heavy metals.
To put this in perspective, though wildfire smoke has similar byproducts to cigarette smoke, it is significantly more damaging due to its increased amount of particulate matter, the potency of its chemicals, and the duration in which those chemicals stay active in the body. The Environmental Protection Agency approximates that the lifetime cancer risk from inhaling woodfire smoke is 12 times greater than from a similar amount of cigarette smoke over one’s lifetime.
How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Our Health?
Studies show that short-term exposures (hours to days) to fine particulate matter can cause cardiovascular events (strokes and heart attacks), hospitalization episodes (from shortness of breath, strokes, or heart attacks), and/or death. Long-term exposures (months to years) can increase the risk of strokes, coronary artery disease, and premature death (American Lung Association, 2023).
- Individuals who are pregnant;
- Infants, children, and teens;
- Older adults (those 65 years of age or older);
- People with lung disease, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
- People with cardiovascular disease;
- People who are obese or have diabetes;
- Current or former smokers;
- People with lung cancer;
- People with low socioeconomic status and
- People of color.
American Lung Association states, “There is no safe threshold to breathe in fine particles. A recent review of all available scientific evidence shows that particle pollution is associated with increased mortality from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer (American Lung Association, 2023).”
At the same time, Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas given off in the smoldering stages of a fire, hinders oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues. This can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, and, in severe exposure, death (American Lung Association, 2016). Nitrogen dioxide, another toxin found in wildfire smoke, can cause increased inflammation in the airways, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, and research suggests it can even cause asthma in children. Nitrogen dioxide is also likely associated with kidney, neurological harm, and cancer (American Lung Association, 2023).
Heavy metals found in wildfire smoke, like arsenic, also cause considerable cause for concern. Inhaling arsenic can lead to cardiovascular disease, birth defects, neurologic and cognitive disorders, diabetes, ototoxicity, peripheral vascular diseases, and disorders of blood cells such as anemia and leukopenia. In high concentrations, arsenic exposure is associated with various types of cancer (Khan & Strand, 2018). Copper toxicity can cause unpleasant GI symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, lead poisoning can lead to neurological deficits in children and can cause kidney failure in adults (Khan & Strand, 2018).
How Does Utah’s Air Quality Rank?
According to the American Lung Association’s 2023 “State of the Air” report, Salt Lake City ranked amongst the nation’s most polluted cities for short-term particle pollution (19th). As shown in Figure 1, between 1984 and 2020, the average extent of burned land in Utah was 1.73 acres per square mile of land area, which ranks Utah as the 6th highest of 50 states (EPA, 2024). Environmental groups like HEAL Utah, in conjunction with concerned citizens, have worked tirelessly with policymakers to mitigate this growing problem in Utah. Increased community protection against wildfires is underway thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $5.5 million grant to three Utah groups. The Salt Lake City Fire Department, the Shivwits Band of Paiute Indians, and Rim to Rim Restoration Moab will use the grant money to update and rewrite Community Fire Protection Plans and implement revegetation measures (St. George News, 2024).
How Can You Advocate for Cleaner Air?
One way that you can combat air pollution from wildfires is to become educated on your community’s Fire Protection Plan, avoid hazardous practices while doing recreational activities, and support policymakers who advocate for clean air. Community Fire Protection Plans, created in more than 250 Utah cities and communities, identify strategies to minimize risks to homes and businesses in the event of a wildfire and pinpoint community resources that can be used to maximize community safety (Utah DNR, 2022). Roughly 70% of Utah wildfires are preventable (Utah Fire Sense, 2020). Doing our part to prevent them means putting out campfires before leaving them, not dragging chains on the highways when pulling trailers or other vehicles, and only launching fireworks in permitted areas on legal dates. More information about how you can prevent wildfires can be found here. HEAL Utah’s website informs the public on issues threatening air quality. It provides ways for community members to advocate for clean air, such as signing petitions or attending conferences to advocate for a cleaner environment.
Wildfires contain harmful substances that can affect our cardiovascular and respiratory health. As Utah continues to combat these environmental threats, doing our part to minimize their effects can make a big difference in our air quality and community health.
- American Lung Association. (2016). How wildfires affect our health. American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/blog/how-wildfires-affect-health#:~:text=Wildfire%20smoke%20can%20be%20extremely,protect%20yourself%20from%20wildfire%20smoke
- American Lung Association. (2023). Nitrogen Dioxide. American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/nitrogen-dioxide
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires#:~:text=Beyond%20the%20human%20and%20societal,turn%20contributes%20to%20climate%20change.
- Marin County. (n.d.). What You Should Know About Residential Wood Smoke Pollution
- St George News. (2024, May 19). Utah receives over $5.5 million in community wildfire defense grant funding. St George News. https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2024/05/19/prc-utah-receives-over-5-5-million-in-community-wildfire-defense-grant-funding/
- Utah DNR. (2022). Community Fire Planning. Utah DNR – FFSL (Forestry, Fire and State Lands). https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/wildfire-community-preparedness/community-fire-planning/
- Utah Fire Sense. (2020, December 15). Utah Fire Sense. https://utahfiresense.org/
- Wood smoke is the other secondhand smoke. Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution. (n.d.). https://www.dsawsp.org/secondhand-smoke/the-other-secondhand-smoke#:~:text=Wood%20smoke%20is%20worse&text=In%20fact%2C%20research%20evidence%20tells,condensate%20in%20a%20laboratory%20study.
- Wood smoke versus Cigarette Smoke. Families for Clean Air. (n.d.). https://www.familiesforcleanair.org/health/health4/#:~:text=In%20a%20laboratory%20study%20at,the%20body%20for%20far%20longer.
About the author: Hanna Ridd is a registered nurse and a freelance healthcare writer. As a part-time emergency department nurse in Utah, she sees firsthand some of the complications that result from exposure to smoke and other environmental irritants. For more information or questions about this article, email Hannamcc6@gmail.com or visit her LinkedIn.
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