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wildfire smoke may have immediate affect on respiratory, cardiovascular systems: ubc study

the study found exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter during wildfire seasons in b.c. was associated with an increased number of ambulance trips for respiratory and cardiovascular problems only one hour after exposure.

wildfire smoke has long been known to be bad for health, but now researchers at ubc say it can have an almost immediate harmful affect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
a study from ubc’s school of population and public health, published wednesday in environmental health perspectives, found that exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter during wildfire seasons in b.c. was associated with an increased number of ambulance trips for respiratory and cardiovascular problems only one hour after exposure.
among people with diabetes, the researchers found that the odds of health complications increased within 48 hours following exposure to wildfire smoke, according to a news release from ubc.
jiayun angela yao, the study’s lead author, said, in a statement, that “it’s alarming” to see how quickly fine particular matter seems to affect the respiratory and cardiovascular system.
the researchers analyzed data from 670,000 ambulance dispatches, as well as paramedic assessments and hospital admissions related to respiratory, circulatory and diabetic conditions during periods of increased particulate matter during b.c. wildfire seasons from 2010 to 2015.
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they concluded that increased particulate matter during wildfire seasons “was associated with some respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes within one hour following exposure, and its association with diabetic outcomes increased over time.”
they say the research needs further study, but it shows the need for rapid public health actions to limit exposure to wildfire smoke.
ubc says the findings are timely given the covid-19 pandemic because air pollution from wildfire smoke can make viral infections affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems even more severe.
“it is vital that everyone start preparing for wildfire smoke events to ensure that they are ready, especially since covid-19 still a serious public health threat in b.c.,” said yao.
“anyone with pre-existing heart and lung disease and diabetes is especially vulnerable and should consider purchasing air cleaners, and ensuring that they have adequate supplies of medication at home.”
the summers of 2017 and 2018 were the worst on record for smoky skies — a provincial state of emergency was declared both years over wildfires — and much of the haze in metro vancouver drifted in from big fires in other parts of b.c.
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the smoke led officials to issue a record number of air-quality advisories, and give extensive advice on how residents should try to remain healthy.
-with a file from lori culbert
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