Perceptions of and Responses to Wildfire Smoke Among New York State Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) is associated with detrimental physical and mental health. Periods of sustained WFS are predicted to increase with climate change, affecting populations globally. Using a retrospective cross-sectional study, we assessed perceptions of and responses to WFS in a cohort of New York State (NYS) residents in Summer 2023. Data were collected using an online survey from October to November 2023. Descriptive statistics summarized respondent experiences, while exploratory analyses identified high-risk populations using chi-square and t-tests. Our sample consisted of 609 primarily healthy, white, and well-educated individuals who spent most of their time in NYS during Summer 2023. Of the 99% that reported experiencing WFS, 92% received and 91% sought out WFS-r

SUBMITTER: Barrera EI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11855130 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature