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Medscape
23-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Wildfire Smoke Can Pose Risks Months Later
The particulate matter from wildfire smoke may be difficult to spot — with the eyes — within days, but those dangerous particles continue to post health risks for up to 3 months after exposure, new research suggested. A study published in Epidemiology in late May demonstrated that fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke represents a danger to human health considerably longer than a couple of days as previously thought. Researchers also found that exposure to the particulate matter can occur even after the fires have ended. Because studies have shown that air pollution exposure can trigger heart attack within an hour, the duration of the effects of wildfire particulate matter surfaced by this new research is a key new insight. The study, authored by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, highlighted increased risks for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) when exposed to smoke particulate matter, referred to as PM2.5, which by definition is 2.5 microns in diameter. To get an idea of how small the particles in wildfire smoke are, the average human hair is about 70 microns in diameter, meaning a 2.5-micron particle is about 28 times smaller than a human hair. The study showed that this tiny irritant is dangerous to those with ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, and hypertension, as well as people with a number of cardiorespiratory diseases. Researchers made these conclusions by obtaining hospitalization records for the residents of 15 states between 2006 and 2016 from the State Inpatient Databases as well as daily smoke particulate matter estimates at 10 km2 cells across the contiguous US, and aggregating them using zip codes to match the spatial resolution of the hospital records. The 3-month exposure to smoke particulate matter was associated or marginally associated with increased hospitalization risks for most cardiorespiratory diseases, with hypertension showing the greatest susceptibility. 'Patients with CVD and the general public should be aware that wildfire smoke is a serious health risk, even if the fire is far away from your home. This is because the emissions can remain in the air and travel long distances for weeks or months after a wildfire has ended,' said Yaguang Wei, PhD, assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and principal investigator of the study. 'Cardiologists and other healthcare providers should definitely discuss these risks with their patients, not only during wildfires but also in the following weeks, as the risk may persist.' Wei said that ongoing studies show that the particulate matter in wildfire smoke is among the most toxic environmental pollutants and can do systemic damage, which can pose further complications for those battling CVD. Yaguang Wei, PhD 'This is because smoke has smaller particles, which can more easily get into the body, and it has more carbonaceous compounds, which are thought to be especially toxic,' Wei said. 'They can enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body, which generates systematic effects. The emissions can remain in the air and travel long distances for weeks or months after a wildfire has ended.' Loren Wold, PhD, a professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, said that this study is crucial, in that it is important to understand the health implications of this particulate matter given the increasing occurrence of wildfires worldwide, and that particulate matter is not very extensively studied. 'People with cardiovascular disease should be especially careful being outside during days when wildfire smoke is present, as exposure to particulate matter from wildfire smoke is especially dangerous for those with cardiovascular disease as it causes an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, which can further worsen the disease,' Wold, who has been studying particulate matter himself for two decades, said. 'Wildfire smoke can also cause temporarily increased blood pressure and vascular inflammation, as well as changes in heart rate variability, which can further exacerbate cardiovascular disease.' Loren Wold, PhD Particulate matter this small can bypass the nose and throat and enter deep into the lungs, and 'penetrate the linings of blood vessels to gain entry to the circulation,' Wold said. It also contains higher concentrations of organic carbon and black carbon, or soot, and can travel thousands of miles and linger for weeks in the atmosphere, he said. Plus, he said, the scale and unpredictability of exposure to wildfire particulate matter makes the health risks 'especially troublesome.' Shahir Masri, ScD, an associate specialist in air pollution exposure assessment and epidemiology at the Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California, said that the notable finding of this study is the duration of the effects posed by the wildfire smoke particulate matter. He pointed out this review paper from 2024 that highlighted its many negative effects, while arguing that the dangerous pollutants that come from wildfires come from other sources, too. 'Many pollutants originate from wildfires, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. However, I should mention that these pollutants shouldn't be thought of as exclusively wildfire-related,' he said. Instead, they're common byproducts from the combustion of organic matter, whether it be wildfires or vehicle exhaust, Masri said. 'Also, even acute, or short-term exposure, to wildfire pollution, is known to exacerbate the symptoms related to underlying health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, as well as asthma, COPD [ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and lung cancer, and others mentioned in the new Harvard study.' At-Risk Individuals Should Take Care The take-home from this study is that individuals suffering from CVD, as well as other underlying conditions, should protect themselves against the effects of wildfire smoke particulate matter when it's in the air. That includes both immediate, acute exposure as well as follow-on exposure, which this study shows can linger for up to 3 months after the event. The first key is for impacted individuals to stay aware of when the particulate matter is in the air. The US government provides an air quality tool called Air Now, where users can look up their local air forecast with their zip code or city and state. The meter on this page displays the Air Quality Index (AQI). Government guidelines suggest that if results show that if the AQI is between 101 and 150, those with CVD or other underlying conditions should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion; if it's over 201, all outdoor exertion should be avoided; and if over 301, all physical activity outdoors should be avoided. Shahir Masri, ScD Wei said that the first thing individuals with CVD should use to protect against the complications from wildfire particulate matter is an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air filter and noted that these are becoming more inexpensive. Masri agreed that air purifiers are essential to help with indoor air quality and provided some tips on successful use. 'Running an air purifier can be very effective at reducing levels of PM2.5 in the home and workspace by 50% or more. Air purifiers, however, come with different flow rates and (effective) sizes. One must be sure to read the label of the air purifier to understand the size of the room it is capable of cleaning,' Masri said. 'If you only have one air purifier, to ensure the cleanest air I suggest placing it in the room where you sleep or work during the day and closing the doors and windows to that room. This reduces intrusion of dirty outdoor air during a wildfire, for instance, and therefore enables the device to do its job more effectively.' Masking is also an option, Masri said, but only when it's the right mask, worn properly. 'One can also opt to wear an N95 mask or respirator around the face to help reduce particulate matter exposure, but the mask must be secured tightly to the face,' he added. 'Those with facial hair will not achieve the tight seal needed to keep air pollution out of your lungs. Lastly, avoidance of outdoor exercise and other outdoor activities is important during major air pollution events like wildfires.'
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Wildfire Health Impacts Can Last For Months Afterwards, Study Finds
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 7: People wear masks as they wait for the tramway to Roosevelt Island as ... More smoke from Canadian wildfires casts a haze over the area on June 7, 2023 in New York City. Air pollution alerts were issued across the United States due to smoke from wildfires that have been burning in Canada for weeks. (Photo by Eduardo) The health impacts of being exposed to air pollution from wildfires can last for months, even after a fire has ended, according to a new analysis. The study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found exposure to PM2.5 particle pollution from wildfire smoke can have health effects up to three months after the blazes have ended, well beyond the couple of days that previous studies have identified. According to the study, medium-term exposure to PM2.5 from wildfire smoke has been associated with increased risks for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and asthma. The study also showed larger effects in neighborhoods with more vegetation or more economic disadvantages, as well as among people who have smoked at any point in their life. The researchers examined hospitalization records for the residents of 15 states between 2006–2016, and daily PM2.5 estimations. They found a three-month exposure to smoke PM2.5 was associated with increased hospitalization risks for most cardiorespiratory diseases In addition, the results for single-month lagged exposures suggested that estimated effects persisted up to three months after exposure. Dr. Yaguang Wei, assistant professor of environmental medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine said studies in the past have tended to focus on the short-term impacts of wildfire emissions in an interview. But Dr. Wei added larger wildfires can burn for up to a month and even after they have ended, particle emissions will remain the air and for another couple of weeks, which potentially means people could be exposed to air pollution over a period of several months. He said the report also highlights how some communities, particularly those with more unemployment, lower housing quality and higher levels of poverty can be more impacted by wildfire smoke. Dr. Wei said the study also highlights how many wildfires management strategies are outdated and place too much emphasis on protecting property, when they should put more emphasis on public health. 'Greater effort should be placed on wildfire management rather than relying solely on traditional air quality control strategies in response to the increasing wildfire activity,' he added. The dean for public health and chair of the Department of Public Health at Mount Sinai, Dr. Rosalind J. Wright said in a statement: 'The public and clinicians should take preventive measures during and after wildfires, such as wearing masks and using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which are becoming more affordable. 'Findings from this study underscore the need to continue such preventive measure for a prolonged period after the fires have ended. 'Collaborative efforts across federal, state, and local levels are essential to safeguard the health of communities nationwide,' added Dr. Wright. The chief executive and co-founder of Komodo Health, Dr. Arif Nathoo said the health consequences of wildfires linger long after the smoke clears in an email. Dr. Nathoo added Komodo Health's own research into the 2018 Northern California wildfires found that pediatric asthma-related emergency visits rose by 27% during the 14-day smoke wave, with asthma exacerbations for Hispanic and Latino children increasing by 95% compared to the baseline. 'The critical takeaway is that early signals can now guide timely interventions,' he said.
Gulf Business
09-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf Business
Using AI for medical diagnosis? What you should know about its safety
Image credit: Getty Images Artificial intelligence models may recommend different treatments for the same medical condition based solely on a patient's socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, researchers warn. The researchers invented nearly three dozen different patients and asked nine healthcare large language AI models how each one should be managed, in a thousand different emergency room situations. How does AI alter decisions? Despite identical clinical details, the AI models occasionally altered decisions based on patients' personal characteristics, affecting priority for care, diagnostic testing, treatment approach, and mental health evaluation, the researchers reported in Nature Medicine. Read- For example, advanced diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRI were more often recommended for high-income patients, while low-income patients were more frequently advised to undergo no further testing, somewhat mimicking real-world healthcare inequities. The problems were seen in both proprietary and open-source AI models, the researchers found. AI in healthcare: Responsibility that comes with its usage 'AI has the power to revolutionise healthcare, but only if it's developed and used responsibly,' study co-leader Dr Girish Nadkarni of the 'By identifying where these models may introduce bias, we can work to refine their design, strengthen oversight, and build systems that ensure patients remain at the heart of safe, effective care,' added coauthor Dr Eyal Klang, also of the Icahn School. Potential fixes for Sjogren's saliva and tears symptoms Researchers are closer to being able to fix the life-altering dryness of the mouth and eyes that afflicts patients with Sjogren's syndrome, based on success of two approaches tested in mice. The symptoms of the autoimmune disorder can make it hard to speak, eat and sleep. But exactly how the disease shuts down the body's production of tears and saliva has been a mystery until now, researchers reported in the International Journal of Oral Science. Their new study found that early in the progression of Sjogren's syndrome, a protein called tricellulin, which clasps together the cells of the glands that produce tears and saliva, is destroyed. Loss of the tight cellular junctions results in inadequate saliva secretion, the researchers found. Two possible interventions – an investigational drug (AT1001) and an experimental molecule – each restored saliva secretion in the mice, one by repairing the cell junctions and the other by stopping the breakdown of the junctions before it began. Both restored normal gland function, offering a potential blueprint for human treatment, the researchers said. 'This changes how we think about treating Sjogren's syndrome,' study leader Dr Xin Cong of Peking University said in a statement. 'We're moving beyond simply calming inflammation. Now we can fix the actual structural damage in the glands,' Xin said. 'What's even more encouraging is that both approaches worked, which gives us real confidence in developing patient-ready therapies.' Experimental drug shows promise for one type of MS An experimental drug originally developed to treat lymphomas is the first-ever to show an effect against a form of multiple sclerosis for which no approved treatments are available, researchers reported at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in San Diego. Sanofi's tolebrutinib, an investigational oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrated a 31 per cent delay in the onset of six-month confirmed disability progression in patients with non-active, non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, in a clinical trial. 'This is the first clinical trial showing a positive effect in delaying disability progression in non-relapsing SPMS, a later form of the disease where neurological function gradually worsens over time and disability increases relentlessly,' study leader Dr Robert Fox of the Cleveland Clinic said in a statement. With 1,131 patients enrolled in the trial, the rate of confirmed disability progression at six months was 22.6 per cent in the tolebrutinib group versus 30.7 per cent in the placebo group, according to a report of the study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. More patients receiving tolebrutinib achieved improvement in disability, with a six-month confirmed disability improvement rate of 8.6 per cent versus 4.5 per cent with placebo, the researchers also reported. Markers of disease activity, including inflammation and tissue damage, also were reduced with tolebrutinib compared with placebo. Serious adverse events, particularly liver complications, were more frequent with tolebrutinib, which is currently under review for potential US approval. 'It appears that about one in 200 patients will have severe elevation of liver enzymes during the first three months of use, so careful monitoring is important, and the drug should be stopped immediately in those with liver enzyme elevations,' Fox said. Separately, in two studies of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, tolebrutinib was not superior to Sanofi's Aubagio (teriflunomide) in decreasing annualised relapse rates, according to a second report in the same journal.
