Smoke and Air Quality

Background

Wildfires in California have become larger and spread more rapidly over the past decade, burning forests and the wildland–urban interface (WUI).

Aims

Because these fires are a major source of air pollutants, there is a pressing need to develop accurate ground-based modeling systems of hazardous emissions.

Background

Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality and an important contributor to childhood and adult morbidity. Major structural birth defects are diagnosed in 2 to 4% of infants in the United States. Environmental contaminants, including air pollution, have been suggested as potential risk factors for these anomalies.

The increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of wildland fires is a significant source of air pollution that can impact perinatal outcomes. This study assessed associations between wildfire fine particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and adverse birth weight outcomes among singleton term births in California for 2007–2018.

Efforts to understand, assess, and address diversifying recovery needs have growing relevance as wildfires continue to impact communities. However, little is known about social experiences navigating gaps in assistance funding and support or “unmet needs” in post-fire spaces, particularly for indirect impacts like smoke damage.

Wildfires are a source of air pollution, including PM_2.5. Exposure to PM_2.5 from wildfire smoke is associated with adverse health effects including premature death and respiratory morbidity.

Chronic health effects of wildfire PM_2.5 on neurodevelopmental outcomes are largely unknown. Therefore, the effects of wildfire PM_2.5 on autism were assessed in a southern California-based pregnancy cohort using Cox proportional hazard models.

Background

Rural communities are increasingly impacted by smoke produced by wildfires and forest management activties. Understanding local influences on smoke adaptation and mitigation is critical to social adaptation as fire risk continues to rise.

Aims

The January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires released large amounts of air pollutants and exposed millions of residents to smoke containing hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Background

Structure fires in the wildland–urban interface (WUI) are becoming more frequent and destructive, yet their emissions of air pollutants remain poorly quantified and are not included in national inventories. Here we present a conterminous-scale inventory of WUI-related structure fire emissions in the United States from 2000 to 2020.