Wildfire smoke threatens health of those near and far

By 91ÊÓƵ News

Wildfire threatens a house on the ouskirts of Santa Rosa, California on October 11, 2017. (Ezra Shaw/Staff, Getty Images News)
Smoke exposure from wildfires affects more than the lungs – it can also cause or complicate heart problems. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

More than 100 wildfires are blazing through parts of the western United States, including one in California that has grown to become the largest fire in the state’s history.

Fires that vast have created logistical nightmares and health concerns for residents within their reach, as well as the firefighters working around the clock to extinguish the flames.

But the smoke hovering above states like California and Colorado has drifted far beyond state borders. The National Weather Service says the haze has traveled thousands of miles – reaching the East Coast and even parts of New England – so the impact of the smoke may soon be everyone’s concern.

While smoke exposure from wildfires has been long associated with lung problems, recent evidence suggests it also can cause heart problems, or complicate existing ones.

A published in April found a link between the smoke from California wildfires in 2015 and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and a worsening of heart failure symptoms and irregular heart rhythms, said Dr. Wayne Cascio, a co-author of the study and director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory in North Carolina.

The study found that emergency room visits for heart-related ailments jumped, particularly among elderly patients, on dense smoke days. The findings pointed to an increase in the amounts of fine particulate matter, or the miniscule pieces of air pollution typically produced by vehicle traffic and power plants.

Breathing these particulates increases inflammation in the blood, Cascio said.

“It affects the autonomic nervous system, which may contribute to instability in blood pressure or increase the heart rate. There’s also the possibility that particulates also affect how blood clots,” he said. “And one of the hallmarks of heart attacks and strokes is they’re associated with blood clotting.”

The “megafires” sweeping across California and other western states in recent years have created a new combination of fine particulates, said Erik Litzenberg, fire chief and city manager of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“As these wildland fires get bigger, the contaminants aren’t just natural contaminants – or the natural byproducts of wood burning – they’re now the byproducts of homes burnings, cars burning and all of the infrastructure behind communities, like electric lines and gas,” he said.

Litzenberg noted that cardiac events already are the leading cause of death among firefighters. The problem is worsened by the fierce growth of wildfires each new year.

“Yes, smoke is an issue, but there are lots of other factors affecting cardiac health in wildland firefighters. For one, they've got inconsistent schedules with long work periods, so our sleep is poor, meaning recovery periods aren't as great,” he said. Research in older women shows sleep deprivation can increase the risk of heart disease.

Research has been limited on the actual effect of wildfire smoke on the cardiovascular health of firefighters and people living near wildfires, mainly because it’s more complicated to measure than something like the short-term effects on lung function, said Dr. Tom Hales, a medical epidemiologist for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For example, among wildland firefighters, lung function can be measured before and after workers begin their shift – or at the start and end of a fire season.

“Cardiac issues are more difficult to study because the endpoint of cardiac arrest or stroke can happen months to years later" and researchers must control for risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes, said Hales, who has investigated on-duty deaths of firefighters due to cardiovascular disease as part of CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Cascio suggested people who live in areas near or bordering the smoke should consult the air quality index for their region, especially the particulate level, on the EPA’s monitoring website, . He said people sensitive to outdoor air pollution – like those with heart- or lung-related illnesses – should try to avoid smoke exposure by staying indoors with the windows shut and air conditioner on. Using a high-efficiency particulate air – or HEPA – filter also helps, he said.

For people who don’t have air conditioning and live in high-temperature areas, keeping windows closed may increase the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Cascio suggested those residents contact their local health department to ask about staying in a designated clean air shelter.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].


91ÊÓƵ News Stories

91ÊÓƵ News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in 91ÊÓƵ News stories reflect the official position of the 91ÊÓƵ. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in 91ÊÓƵ scientific journals or presented at 91ÊÓƵ scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the 91ÊÓƵ’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the 91ÊÓƵ, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to 91ÊÓƵ News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the 91ÊÓƵ’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.