Exposure to Smoke From Wildfire, Prescribed, and Agricultural Burns Among At-Risk Populations Across Washington, Oregon, and California.

ABSTRACT: Wildfires, prescribed burns, and agricultural burns all impact ambient air quality across the Western U.S.; however, little is known about how communities across the region are differentially exposed to smoke from each of these fire types. To address this gap, we quantify smoke exposure stemming from wildfire, prescribed, and agricultural burns across Washington, Oregon, and California from 2014 to 2020 using a fire type-specific biomass burning emissions inventory and the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model. We examine fire type-specific PM_2.5 concentration by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and in relation to the Center for Disease Control's Social Vulnerability Index. Overall, population-weighted PM_2.5 concentrations are greater from wildfires than from prescr

SUBMITTER: Schollaert CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11033669 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature