GEOB370 Final Project

Wildfire Smoke and Public Health in BC

Spatial Analysis in Exposure Assessment and Health Implications

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Data
• Methodology
• Results I
• Results II
  
• Conclusions
• Limitations
• Future study
• Acknowledgements

Introduction

Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire is one of the common hazards in North America. Due to climate change, more extreme weathers are occurring and more frequent and intense wildfires have been predicted in the coming future.

Smoke emitted from wildfire is a complex mixture of gases including CO2, CO, NOx, water vapour and organic chemicals, as well as particulate matters.

Particulate Matter (PM)

Particulate matters are solid particles suspended in a gas and solid and they are a type of the common pollutants in environment. There are both man-made and natural sources of PM. 

Studies have suggested that PM is the most robust indicator of wildfire smoke comparing to gases in the mixture.

PM2.5, defined as particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometer, contributes to the majority of wildfire PM and is of great concern also because its small size, making it possible to lodge deeply into lungs.

Health responses from wildfire smoke PM

Health effects associated with wildfire smoke PM exposure include exacerbations of symptoms in people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cardiovascular diseases have also been associated with wildfire smoke PM, with currently less but increasing evidence.

Images: Northwest Crown Fire Experiment,  Wikipedia Commons (Above)
             Pariculate matter size, US EPA (Below)