Wildfire smoke and health

Published on

With wildfires becoming more frequent and extensive in Canada, it’s important for people to understand the health risks of wildfire smoke. An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) aims to provide information for clinicians and people in Canada as wildfire season is upon us. 

“As climate change causes more frequent and severe wildfires, wildfire smoke becomes a larger health problem,” says Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, assistant professor, Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, and medical officer of health of Windsor–Essex County, Ontario. “Communities need to be aware and prepared to reduce the harmful health effects of wildfire smoke, and health care practitioners play a crucial role in this effort.”

1. Exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to negative health outcomes, including respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and heart issues. 

2. Wildfire smoke can be more toxic than other types of air pollution. The fine particulates in wildfire smoke can travel more than 1000 km, enter the body, generate free radicals, and cause inflammation in body organs.

3. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a useful tool to communicate risk of wildfire smoke. The AQHI scale measures air quality on a scale of 1–10, and a level of more than 7 indicates that at-risk people, including those with respiratory and chronic diseases, older adults, pregnant people, and children, should minimize time spent outdoors in strenuous activity.

4. Health care providers can help people understand health risks. Clinicians should discuss the risks of wildfire smoke with at-risk patients, the usefulness of the AQHI, and the value of indoor air filtration, and ensure patients with respiratory conditions have updated action plans and an adequate supply of medications.

5. Reducing exposure will reduce health risks. Staying indoors and using high-efficiency particulate air cleaners, and when outside wearing well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks can reduce exposure to fine particles by more than 90 per cent. 

Latest articles

The Canadian Consensus Statement on the management of venous leg ulcers

This Consensus Statement was developed with the objective of creating a concise document that...

A pathway to independence for patients with rare disease

Nearly 20 years ago, Audrey Gouskos came through the St. Michael’s Hospital Emergency Department...

Robotic-assisted rehabilitation now available in Fraser Health

Stroke patient Leanne Mork is learning to walk again with the assistance of a...

Helping Canada Design Health Care Facilities for Future Needs

Health care facilities (HCFs) play an important role in communities, providing a safe, secure,...

More like this

Free toolkit to support mental health in the workplace

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released a free Workplace Mental...

Move more, age well: prescribing physical activity for older adults as a recipe for healthy aging

Can physical activity extend the lifespans of older adults? A review article published in CMAJ (Canadian...

Antipsychotic use has been rising in long-term care homes, but we can do something about it – we’ve done it before

As health care providers working in long-term care (LTC), we’ve seen firsthand how antipsychotic...

Sinai Health team sheds light on COVID-19 variant dynamics in Toronto

The worst days of the pandemic may be behind us, but research into the...

Safe medication use of blood thinning medications

blood clot is an accumulation of blood that has thickened and clumped together. The...

Canadian first: Sunnybrook achieves second level of age-friendly health system designation

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is proud to announce a first-in-Canada recognition, as we received...