Podcast #77: Health Concerns with the Toxic Soup that is Wildfire Smoke

Published:

In this episode (#77) we talk with two experts on the dangers of exposure to wildfire smoke. Our guests are:

Sumi Hoshiko

Sumi Hoshiko

 

Sumi Hoshiko is an environmental epidemiologist with the Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Center for Healthy Communities, in the California Department of Public Health. She has conducted research on health effects related to climate change, including wildfires and heat waves. Just recently her research has been cited in a New York Times online article on the California wildfires. She is currently the principal investigator of a research study funded by CAL FIRE that will examine the public health impacts of prescribed fire. Other areas of work have involved investigation of a variety of environmental exposures and health conditions, including tobacco smoke, chromium, perchlorate, radiation, cancer clusters, and asthma. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Janice Prudhomme

Dr. Janice Prudhomme

 

Dr. Janice Prudhomme is a Public Health Medical Officer (PHMO III) who works in the Environmental Health Investigations Branch (EHIB) within the Center for Community Health at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Dr. Prudhomme is trained in Internal Medicine and Board Certified in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, having completed a fellowship at UCSF and a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) at UC Berkeley. Following initial work in clinical occupational medicine, she transitioned to public health roughly 2 decades ago. She has served as a Public Health Medical Officer in the Occupational Health Branch at CDPH and subsequently led Cal/OSHA’s Medical Unit. She also served as the Branch Chief for EHIB from 2014-2015. Her interests and expertise are broad-based across many occupational and environmental topics and hazards, including infectious agents, chemical exposures and physical hazards, including heat stress and wildfire smoke exposures. Current projects include updating EHIB’s educational documents pertaining to wildfire smoke and the intersection with COVID-19.

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Terms Mentioned

Particulate Matter (PM)

Size Matters with PM:

PM 2.5 Based on size, particulate matter is often divided into two main groups:

  • The coarse fraction contains the larger particles with a size ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm (MICRO METER) (PM10 – PM5).
  • The fine fraction contains the smaller ones with a size up to 2.5 µm (PM5). The particles in the fine fraction which are smaller than 0.1 µm are called ultrafine particles.

Air Cleaning Devices for the Home

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/air-cleaning-devices-home

FROM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICE (EPO):

Wildfires

If you have an urgent health condition or medical need call 911.

The following links can provide additional helpful information:

The latest news from the California Office of Emergency Services: CalOES.ca.gov

Information on current wildfires: California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

Current air quality information: California Air Resources Board

Map of current air conditions: AirNow.gov

More information about wildfire smoke dangers: Ready.gov

More information on wildfire prevention and safety: Centers for Disease Control

Wildfire Smoke Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials PDF

Wildfire Cleanup Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials PDF

For the latest wildfire information in your area, monitor your local media, including television, radio and internet.

From OHE (Office of Health Equity) webpage:

COVID-19, Wildfires, and Wildfire Smoke

The COVID-19 pandemic overlaps with the wildfire season in California. The populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 overlap with the populations most exposed to air pollution and its respiratory and cardiovascular effects on health. The populations may also overlap in terms of being more vulnerable to having adverse health impacts from wildfire smoke exposure (while not being more likely to be exposed to the smoke itself). Most actions that health experts recommend for protecting communities from wildfire smoke remain the same, but some special considerations need to be made during the pandemic. Information on wildfire, wildfire smoke, and COVID-19 can be found below:

Cal EPA Guidelines:

https://www.airnow.gov/wildfire-smoke-guide-publications/

Wildfire Smoke Guide and Factsheets Publications | AirNow.gov

Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials. This document, originally developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), is designed to help local public health officials prepare for smoke events, to take measures to protect the public when smoke is present, and communicate with the public about wildfire smoke and health.

www.airnow.gov

PEHSU (Pediatric Environmental Health and Safety Unit) from UCSF:

https://www.pehsu.net/Wildfires_and_Smoke_Resources.html

(VERY IMPORTANT as children fall into the high risk groups for increased health effects due to wildfire smoke exposures)

Wildfires and Smoke – PEHSU

This webinar was presented by Julie Fox, PhD, MHS, Ambient Air Epidemiologist of the Washington Department of Health (PEHSU Region 10) on April 17, 2019. Web-on-demand available. Click here to view.

www.pehsu.net

Cal/OSHA (for worker health and safety):

https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5141_1.html

(The standard to protect workers from wildfire smoke)

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1. Protection from Wildfire Smoke.

(2) Engineering Controls. The employer shall reduce employee exposure to PM2.5 to less than a current AQI of 151 by engineering controls whenever feasible, for instance by providing enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where the air is filtered.

www.dir.ca.gov

Emergency Response

Resources

Other Resources

CA Air Resources Board:

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/air-cleaners-ozone-products/air-cleaner-information-consumers

This is information on indoor air cleaners for the public.

Air Cleaner Information for Consumers | California Air Resources Board

Not all air-cleaning devices are appropriate for home use; some are known to be harmful to human and animal health. Ozone generators, which are portable or in-duct air cleaners that intentionally create ozone, can produce levels that are much higher than health-based standards. There are companies that try to sell the idea that breathing ozone is actually healthy, but there are 40 years of …

ww2.arb.ca.gov

 

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