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Wildfire Smoke: Health Effects and Public Health Outreach
Citation:
Cascio, W. Wildfire Smoke: Health Effects and Public Health Outreach. The Arkansas Fire Policy Forum, Little Rock, Arkansas, March 29 - 30, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Air Division, Policy and Planning Branch requested the presentation at “The Arkansas Fire Policy Forum” in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The content of the presentation will provide a general discussion of the epidemiological data supporting a link between exposure to wildfire smoke and cardiovascular health outcomes. Exposure to wildfire emissions is an important public health issue. The sizes of the vulnerable and sensitive populations are rapidly increasing in the U.S. Drought and poor forest health is increasing risks of wildland fire and risks of co-morbidity. Relevant health data is now available to provide guidance for public health action and to aid decision-making. Knowledge gaps persist and require ongoing research. All of these issues will be addressed in the presentation to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality at “The Arkansas Fire Policy Forum” and provide a foundation for future discussions of wildland fire and smoke management.
Description:
The content of the presentation provides a general discussion of the epidemiological data supporting a link between exposure to wildfire smoke and clinical health outcomes including adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects and economic impacts. Exposure to wildfire emissions is an important public health issue. The sizes of the vulnerable and sensitive populations are rapidly increasing in the U.S. Drought and poor forest health is increasing risks of wildland fire and risks of co-morbidity. Relevant health data is now available to provide guidance for public health action and to aid decision-making. Yet many knowledge gaps persist and require ongoing research.