0151-2821-MTDC: Health Hazards of Smoke Spring 2001, Page 6

Health Hazards of Smoke Spring 2001

Fire Storm 2000 (continued)

Summary

The potential health effects from exposure to the smoke from wildland fires range from:

Short-term (cough, eye irritation, lung function)
Intermediate (bronchitis, decreased immune function)
Long-term risks (lung and heart disease, cancer)

Studies of smoke exposure indicate a relationship between exposure, respiratory symptoms, and respiratory illness. Cigarette smokers have far more exposure and illness than residents exposed to the smoke from vegetative fires. Firefighters who smoke have more carbon monoxide in their blood on the way to the fire than do nonsmoking firefighters at the end of the work shift. While the long-term risks of lung and heart disease and cancer are suggested by studies of smoking and air pollution, these effects have not been confirmed in wildland firefighters.

Respiratory symptoms (coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath) increase in a portion of the population exposed to smoke. Some studies show an increase in emergency room visits for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during episodes of smoke exposure. When physicians specializing in lung disease were interviewed after the smoke exposures of the 2000 fire season, they had the following comments:

"Even subjects with chronic lung conditions had few complications. Most people did remarkably well."

"People with normal, healthy lungs should not have long-term effects." (Missoulian, Oct. 11, 2000)

In a letter to health officials (August 23, 2000), the Montana State medical officer said:

"Although the impact of the poor air quality is quite serious for those with underlying heart and lung disease, this is not true for healthier individuals. There is no doubt that the smoke is irritating and results in scratchy throats, dry coughs, irritated sinuses, headaches and rhinorrhea. However, these effects are not permanent."

Sources:

World Health Organization. 1999. Health guidelines for vegetation fire events.

Sharkey, Brian. 1997. Health hazards of smoke: recommendations of the consensus conference. April 1997. 9751-2836-MTDC. Missoula, MT.

Johnson, Kit. 1990. Montana air pollution study: children's health effects. Journal of Official Statistics, 5: 391.

Samet, J., and others. 2000. Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in 20 U.S. cities, 1987-1994. New England Journal of Medicine, 343: 1742.