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Since the close of the 20th century, while overall air pollution emissions from various sources in the United States have seen a decline, emissions stemming from wildland fires have notably increased. A recent study has revealed that smoke from wildfires and prescribed burns was responsible for an estimated $200 billion in health-related damages in the year 2017, correlating with approximately 20,000 premature deaths. Senior citizens were the most affected demographic, while Native American and Black communities faced the highest damage rates per capita.
The research, conducted by experts from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, has been published in Communications Earth & Environment.
“Numerous studies have established a connection between fire-induced smoke and heightened risks of illness and mortality, akin to other air pollutants,” noted Nicholas Muller, the Lester and Judith Lave Professor of Economics, Engineering, and Public Policy at CMU, who co-authored the analysis. “However, until recently, the social costs associated with this phenomenon were not thoroughly understood.”
Wildfires emit a range of pollutants, including ammonia, nitrogen oxides, primary fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds, which contribute to significant levels of ambient PM2.5. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is statistically linked to an increased risk of mortality. Besides the immediate dangers posed by fires, such as injuries, fatalities, and property damage, the health risks stemming from smoke exposure represent a considerable cost. Prescribed burns, employed widely for wildfire management, pose similar pollution-related dangers.
The study utilized an integrated assessment model to evaluate the health damages related to ambient PM2.5 resulting from wildfires and prescribed burns across census tracts in the contiguous United States during 2017.
In 2017, the total damages attributed to fire smoke exceeded $200 billion, accounting for 17% of the total costs from all emission sources in the contiguous U.S. This financial toll was linked to approximately 20,000 premature deaths, with roughly equal contributions from wildfire smoke and prescribed burns. Key findings from the study included:
- Close to half of the overall damage stemmed from wildfires, particularly concentrated in the Western states, while the remainder was linked to prescribed burns, primarily in the Southeast.
- Higher smoke exposure levels were associated with various indicators of social vulnerability; however, when age was factored in, these disparities became more pronounced.
- Senior citizens, predominantly white, constituted 16% of the population but accounted for 75% of the health-related damages.
- Notably, Native American and Black communities experienced the highest damage rates per capita across nearly all age groups.
“Our findings highlight the severe and disproportionate consequences posed by the escalating threat of fire smoke,” said Luke Dennin, a Ph.D. student in the field of engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon, who spearheaded the research. “We also propose recommendations for local, state, and national policymakers and planners to address the increasing environmental danger of fire smoke, especially regarding its effects on vulnerable communities.”
Among the recommendations offered were:
- Enhancement of real-time air quality monitoring and public outreach efforts, particularly via trusted community leaders, to educate vulnerable and historically underserved groups about adaptive strategies in smoke-affected areas.
- Investments in filtration technology to improve indoor air quality during smoke events, creating clean air spaces in strategically chosen locations that are accessible to at-risk populations, such as senior centers in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- The distribution of respiratory protective gear, like N95 masks, through organized systems in anticipation of smoke events, aiming to protect those with limited access to safe indoor environments, including outdoor laborers.
This research was supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and KeyLogic, along with contributions from the National Science Foundation and the Heinz Endowments.
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