Is wildfire smoke an emerging vector for disease?
Wildfire smoke has increasingly become critical in climate adaptation planning for downwind communities. It's no longer uncommon to be inundated with smoke from another state or country, depending on where you live.
When conducting a risk assessment, the measure of fine particles (PM2.5) is typically used as a basis for determining risk. What is lesser known is that wildfire smoke can also carry harmful microbes that may lead to infectious diseases.
Emerging research reveals that wildland fire smoke acts as a source of bioaerosols, consisting of airborne particles like fungal and bacterial cells and their metabolic byproducts. These particles can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, potentially spreading infections far and wide.
A notable example is coccidioidomycosis, a fungus that becomes airborne when soils are disturbed and is responsible for Valley Fever, a potentially serious illness. In California, massive wildfires have been correlated with an 18% to 22% increase in invasive fungal infections, such as Valley Fever.
More research is needed on this issue, but as we continue to face more frequent and intense wildfires, it's important to recognize and address the broader public health implications of smoke.
References:
Kobziar & Thompson, (2020). Wildfire smoke: A potential infectious agent, Science, DOI: 0.1126/science.abe8116
Unmasking the Dangers: The Hidden Health Risks of Wildfire Smoke | UC San Francisco (ucsf.edu)
