Wildfire Smoke Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cardiorespiratory Emergency Department Visits in Alaska.

ABSTRACT: Alaskan wildfires have major ecological, social, and economic consequences, but associated health impacts remain unexplored. We estimated cardiorespiratory morbidity associated with wildfire smoke (WFS) fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) in three major population centers (Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley) during the 2015-2019 wildfire seasons. To estimate WFS PM_2.5, we utilized data from ground-based monitors and satellite-based smoke plume estimates. We implemented time-stratified case-crossover analyses with single and distributed lag models to estimate the effect of WFS PM_2.5 on cardiorespiratory emergency department (ED) visits. On the day of exposure to WFS PM_2.5, there was an increased odd

SUBMITTER: Hahn MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8137270 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature