About
As wildfires continue to grow in size and frequency across the United States, millions of people are experiencing more days with unhealthy air. As these fires burn, they produce massive smoke plumes that can drift hundreds or even thousands of miles, raising air pollution levels far from the fire itself. This smoke contains fine particulate matter known as PM₂.₅ or particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller that are capable of reaching the deepest parts of the lungs, where they can trigger inflammation and airway irritation. Particulate matter from wildfires may be more irritating and harmful than everyday air pollution (Aguilera et al., 2021). For people with asthma, exposure to wildfire smoke can make symptoms worse or even lead to severe asthma attacks.
This project looks closely at how wildfire-related PM₂.₅ affects people, particularly children, with asthma. We will examine whether wildfire smoke leads to increased use of inhalers and other fast-acting asthma medications, and whether it results in more visits to clinics, urgent care centers, or hospitals for asthma symptoms. Our focus on children reflects existing research that identifies this group as particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of wildfire smoke.