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 (PM2.5) and adverse birth weight outcomes among singleton term births in California for 2007–2018.
Wildfires are a source of air pollution, including PM2.5. Exposure to PM2.5 from wildfire smoke is associated with adverse health effects including premature death and respiratory morbidity.
Chronic health effects of wildfire PM2.5 on neurodevelopmental outcomes are largely unknown. Therefore, the effects of wildfire PM2.5 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
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.
Exposure to PM2·5 from wildfire smoke during pregnancy has been implicated as a risk factor for preterm birth. We investigated this association in the prospective nationwide US Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort, focusing on prenatal wildfire PM2·5 exposure intensity, duration, and timing.