The health effects of wildfire smoke

Worker approaches a blazing wildfire in a forest.

DEOHS wildfire experts are investigating how smoke affects our health and strategies to reduce its impacts

 

DEOHS wildfire smoke experts were featured in a recent webinar hosted by the UW School of Public Health

Wildfires are natural and inevitable in our forestlands. Climate change is making our wildfire seasons longer, hotter and more dangerous.

The UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) has a long history of leading research into the impacts of wildfires on human health.

Through our research and outreach activities, DEOHS faculty and students are building our understanding of how wildfire smoke can damage our health and the best ways to protect people and communities from harm.

Learn about our impact, research and expertise below.

Our impact

Two forest workers in a forest, one in the foreground cutting a tree trunk with a chainsaw wearing a helmet, ear protection, safety visor, orange vest and gloves.

Virtual training for wildfire prevention

New DEOHS-led project develops VR simulations to protect health and safety of forest workers who fend off wildfires

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3 people wearing face masks stand next to weather monitoring equipment inside a chain-link fence.

Heat, fire, smoke and health in Washington’s ag industry

DEOHS researchers investigate the combined health effects of wildfire smoke and heat on Washington’s agricultural workforce and test strategies to protect workers and crops

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Wildfire smoke with mountains in the background and evergreens in the foreground.

Facing wildfire smoke amid COVID-19

Communities need connection to weather wildfire smoke and climate change, but the pandemic is making it harder to come together

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Portrait of Nicole Errett

Master of disaster

DEOHS Lecturer Nicole Errett is this year’s Outstanding Faculty Mentor

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A woman in a purple shirt smiles against an outdoor backdrop of trees and mountains.

Landing her dream job

2020 Outstanding Master’s student Kaitlyn Kelly credits her mentors with helping launch her career in environmental health

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Portrait of Alexa Yadama with trees in the background

Finding beauty in the details

This scholar and ultimate frisbee star is using science to protect people’s health

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In the news

What wildfire smoke means for your health
January 9, 2025 | Washington Post | Featured: Joel D. Kaufman View

Exposure to wildfire smoke is linked with higher risk of dementia, UW study shows
January 3, 2025 | Oregon Public Broadcasting | Featured: Joan Casey View

Study links wildfire smoke and dementia risk. What does it mean for the North?
December 19, 2024 | Yukon News | Featured: Joan Casey View

Breathing wildfire smoke may greatly increase the risk of dementia
December 11, 2024 | Consumer Affairs | Featured: Joan Casey View

Wildfire smoke exposure and dementia risk
December 10, 2024 | National Institutes of Health | Featured: Joan Casey View