A systematic review of the physical health impacts from non-occupational exposure to wildfire smoke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Climate change is likely to increase the threat of wildfires, and little is known about how wildfires affect health in exposed communities. A better understanding of the impacts of the resulting air pollution has important public health implications for the present day and the future.

Method

We performed a systematic search to identify peer-reviewed scientific studies published since 1986 regarding impacts of wildfire smoke on health in exposed communities. We reviewed and synthesized the state of science of this issue including methods to estimate exposure, and identified limitations in current research.

Results

We identified 61 epidemiological studies linking wildfire and human health in communities. The U.S. and Australia were the most frequently studied

SUBMITTER: Liu JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4262561 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature