All articles tagged with #smoke exposure
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles caused a significant increase in heart attacks, respiratory illnesses, and abnormal blood test results over 90 days, likely due to the toxic mix of materials burned and prolonged smoke exposure, leading to long-term health impacts beyond immediate injuries.
Florida Atlantic University has received a $4.2 million federal grant to conduct a study on the relationship between smoke exposure from agricultural fires and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The research will focus on rural areas in Palm Beach County and aims to improve understanding of the impact of air quality on cognitive health.
The U.S. is already experiencing the worst smoke season on record due to Canadian wildfires, with smoke exposure per person surpassing previous years, according to a Stanford University analysis. The June haze events served as a wake-up call for communities unprepared for wildfire smoke, causing flight delays, event cancellations, and increased hospital visits. Experts predict that Canada's fires will continue to emit smoke throughout the summer, affecting parts of the U.S., including the Pacific Northwest and upper Midwest. With many fires burning out of control, efforts to extinguish them are hindered by the lack of roads and the rapid spread of the fires. The upcoming U.S. wildfire season is expected to be prolonged and intense, exacerbating the smoke problem.
Onondaga County health officials are advising residents to keep their windows and doors shut to prevent smoke from the Quebec wildfires from entering their homes. The smoke can pose serious health risks, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged outdoor activity or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged outdoor activity or heavy exertion. Schools should consider canceling outdoor sports activities.
Smoke from wildfires in Nova Scotia and New Jersey has drifted down the northeast corridor, prompting health authorities to issue air-quality warnings as far east as New Jersey, southeast Pennsylvania and parts of Massachusetts. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulates, commonly known as PM2.5, that are often unseen components of smoke and soot. Exposure can trigger short-term respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and asthma exacerbation, and in more severe cases, exposure is linked with cardiovascular impacts, lung cancer and damage to cognitive functions. Everyone is vulnerable to the risks posed by wildfire smoke, but some people are more affected than others, including the elderly, young children, people with preexisting cardiovascular or respiratory disease or who are pregnant, and low-income populations.