Respiratory hospitalizations and wildfire smoke: a spatiotemporal analysis of an extreme firestorm in San Diego County, California.

ABSTRACT: Wildfire smoke adversely impacts respiratory health as fine particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Epidemiological studies of differential impacts typically target population subgroups in terms of vulnerability to wildfire smoke. Such information is useful to customize smoke warnings and mitigation actions for specific groups of individuals. In addition to individual vulnerability, it is also important to assess spatial patterns of health impacts to identify vulnerable communities and tailor public health actions during wildfire smoke events.

Methods

We assess the spatiotemporal variation in respiratory hospitalizations in San Diego County during a set of major wildfires in 2007, which led to a substantial public health burden. We propose a spatial within-community matched d

SUBMITTER: Aguilera R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7941788 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature