Abstract
Welcoming Remarks
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
Abstract
Health effects of the 2008 northern California wildfires: A spatiotemporal approach
Colleen Reid, PhD MPH1, Michael Jerrett, PhD2 and John R. Balmes, MD3
(1)University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, (2)UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, (3)School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Berkeley, CA
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
Introduction to the problem: Wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity in western North America, and area burned from wildfires and the length of the wildfire season are projected to increase in the western US and in many other parts of the world. Wildfires emit many air pollutants of concern for public health, most notably PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter). Previous epidemiological studies of wildfire smoke exposure have found consistent evidence for respiratory health effects in general and most specifically for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Findings for other health outcomes have been inconsistent across studies and insufficient research has investigated whether particular subpopulations are more vulnerable to this exposure. Research question: We aimed to assess if there were differential health effects of PM2.5 on respiratory and cardiovascular health during a large wildfire episode in 2008 in northern California. Methods: To assess exposure, we evaluated a spatiotemporal machine learning algorithm that we had previously validated to estimate PM2.5 levels during the wildfires. We then assessed in these exposure levels were associated with daily ZIP-code level counts of specific respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Data analysis used: We used Poisson generalized estimating equations to calculate the effect of exposure to 24-hour average PM2.5 on cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations and ED visits. We further assessed effect modification by sex, age, and area-level socioeconomic status (SES). Conclusions: The effect of PM2.5 during the wildfire period was more pronounced in women compared to men and in adults, ages 20-64, compared to children and adults 65 or older. We also found some effect modification by area-level median income for respiratory ED visits during the wildfires, with the highest effects observed in the ZIP codes with the lowest median income. Using a novel spatiotemporal exposure model, we found some evidence of differential susceptibility to exposure to wildfire smoke.
Environmental health sciences
Abstract
Identifying At-Risk Populations to Wildfire Smoke Hazards
Ambarish Vaidyanathan, PhD1, Fuyuen Y. Yip, PhD2 and Paul L. Garbe, DVM, MPH2
(1)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, (2)National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
Background: Wildfire episodes pose a significant public health threat in the United States. Adverse health impacts associated with wildfires occur near the burn area as well as in places far downwind due to wildfire smoke exposures. Health effects associated with exposure to PM arising from wildfires can range from mild eye and respiratory tract irritation to more serious outcomes such as asthma exacerbation, bronchitis, and decreased lung function.
Objectives: The presentation will describe efforts that are currently underway at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop an online tool that integrates short-term forecasts for wildfire smoke with measures of vulnerability.
Methods: The tool building effort will be accomplished in collaboration with academic, state and national partners including, NOAA/National Weather Service and USDA/Forest Service, and will be carried out in two phases. In phase one, operational smoke prediction models will be used to generate predictions of PM2.5 and other co-pollutants for historical wildfire smoke episodes. The grid-based modeled estimates will initially be evaluated using measurements from nearby monitors and will be geo-transformed to a spatial resolution conforming to the resolution for which health data are available. Using this linked dataset, a time-series analysis will be conducted to measure the effect of wildfire smoke-related PM2.5 on cardiorespiratory health outcomes. The analysis will also identify measures of vulnerability that are confounders or modifiers of the relationship between smoke-related PM2.5 exposure and related health outcomes. In phase two, a web service will be created for real-time wildfire smoke forecasts and integrated with relevant measures of vulnerability. The final product will then be incorporated into CDC’s National Environmental Public Health Tracking website (http://ephtracking.cdc.gov), providing users with access to a suite of mapping and display functionalities.
Summary: A real-time vulnerability assessment tool incorporating standardized health and exposure datasets, and prevention guidelines related to wildfire smoke hazards is currently unavailable for public health practitioners and emergency responders. This tool could strengthen existing situational awareness competencies, and expedite future response and recovery efforts during wildfire episodes.
Epidemiology Public health or related public policy Public health or related research
Abstract
Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Efforts In the United States
Peter Lahm
USDA Forest Service, WASHINGTON, DC
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
Where there is fire, there is smoke. Air quality impacts from wildfires in the United States are frequently the highest air pollution exposures that face the American public. Not only are these impacts high, but they are also becoming longer in duration due to climate change and wildland fuel conditions. These impacts are a significant cost to society through health effects and disruption of normal activities for vulnerable populations. The USDA Forest Service has been leading the development of the Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program to address the air quality impacts of wildfires on the American public. The Program utilizes emergency deployable air quality monitoring equipment, state of the art wildland fire smoke dispersion models, and development of specialized Air Resource Advisors (ARAs) for dispatch to ongoing wildfires to develop publicly available and disseminated smoke impact forecasts. This effort has garnered interest from the international community with two observers from Canada attending the most recent training class of ARAs where wildfire smoke impacts are also an increasingly serious health and safety issue for remote indigenous populations. Unfortunately virtually all climate change forecasts project increases in wildfire activity, sometimes double and triple current levels, which foreshadows the need for this type of program in order to minimize exposure of vulnerable populations to these serious air quality impacts.
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs Environmental health sciences
Abstract
Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials
Susan Lyon Stone, MS1, Paul L. Garbe, DVM, MPH2, Scott Damon, MAIA3, Wayne Cascio, MD1, Marissa Hauptman, MD, MPH, FAAP4 and Jason Sacks, MPH1
(1)US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, (2)National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, (3)National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA, (4)Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
This presentation will describe revisions included in the 2016 document Wildfire Smoke A Guide for Public Health Officials, describe ways improved information was used in 2016 fire season and discuss the final version of the guide that will be available in mid-2017. The 2017 version of the Guide will include downloadable fact sheets for use by state and local public health agencies on topics such as preseason preparedness, children, older adults, exposure reduction, and respirator use. The Guide, which was last revised in 2008, 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. The 2016 version has been updated with the assistance and expertise from a number of federal and state agencies. Significant revisions to the document include: updated information about the health effects of smoke and at-risk populations; evidence-based strategies to reduce smoke exposure; the latest recommendations about respirator use from National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); new tools on the AirNow website and an improved visual range index; updated actions for public health officials; and information about a new program to improve responses to fire/smoke events. The Appendices include new guidelines for ash clean-up from NIOSH and fact sheets written by pediatricians about protecting children during smoke events.
Public health or related public policy
Abstract
Smoke Sense – a crowd sourced study of health impacts of wildland fire smoke exposures
Ana Rappold, PhD1, Kristen Rappazzo2, Susan Lyon Stone, MS3, David Diaz-Sanchez, PhD1, Neal Fann, M.P.P.3, Bryan Hubbell4 and Wayne Cascio, MD3
(1)US EPA, Durham, NC, (2)U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, (3)US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, (4)EPA, Durham, NC
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)
Exposure to particles and gasses found in wildfire smoke are linked to a range of health outcomes, affecting wellbeing and productivity in the affected communities. The health outcomes range from low severity, including increased incidence of respiratory symptoms, wheezing, coughing and eye irritation, to the most severe outcomes that affect more sensitive populations, including cardiopulmonary hospitalizations and death. The impacts of the most severe outcomes are well documented in clinical, epidemiologic and toxicological literature; but less is known about the health burden due to the less severe outcomes, which affect a wider population and may substantially contribute to the public health burden and economic productivity in the communities. This abstract presents the protocol and the results of the Smoke Sense Study - the first crowd sourced study of health impacts during wildland fire smoke events. This study improves understanding of the low severity health impacts in populations and determines health risk communication strategies that influence individuals’ behaviors and reduce the public health burden during significant smoke episodes. The results of this study are anticipated to facilitate the development of health risk communication strategies which are a key element to reducing public health burden during smoke events.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this abstract do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental health sciences Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Public health or related education Public health or related research
Abstract
Discussion
APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)