Editing Wildfire (section)

==== Epidemiology ====
{{Globalize section|date=July 2023|United States}}
The Western US has seen an increase in both the frequency and intensity of wildfires over the last several decades. This has been attributed to the arid climate of there and the effects of global warming. An estimated 46 million people were exposed to wildfire smoke from 2004 to 2009 in the Western US. Evidence has demonstrated that wildfire smoke can increase levels of airborne particulate.<ref name=":11" />

The EPA has defined acceptable concentrations of PM in the air, through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and monitoring of ambient air quality has been mandated.<ref name=":15">{{cite web |date=24 April 2016 |title=Particulate Matter (PM) Standards |url=http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815125540/http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_index.html |archive-date=15 August 2012 |publisher=EPA}}</ref> Due to these monitoring programs and the incidence of several large wildfires near populated areas, epidemiological studies have been conducted and demonstrate an association between human health effects and an increase in fine particulate matter due to wildfire smoke.

An increase in PM smoke emitted from the Hayman fire in Colorado in June 2002, was associated with an increase in respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sutherland |first1=E. Rand |last2=Make |first2=Barry J. |last3=Vedal |first3=Sverre |last4=Zhang |first4=Lening |last5=Dutton |first5=Steven J. |last6=Murphy |first6=James R. |last7=Silkoff |first7=Philip E. |date=2005 |title=Wildfire smoke and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |journal=Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |volume=115 |issue=2 |pages=420–422 |doi=10.1016/j.jaci.2004.11.030 |pmid=15696107}}</ref> Looking at the wildfires in Southern California in 2003, investigators have shown an increase in hospital admissions due to asthma symptoms while being exposed to peak concentrations of PM in smoke.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Delfino |first1=R.J. |last2=Brummel |first2=S |last3=Wu |first3=J. |last4=Stern |first4=H. |last5=Ostro |first5=B. |last6=Lipsett |first6=M. |last10=Tjoa |first10=T.|last11=Gillen |first11=D.L. |date=2009 |title=The relationship of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions to the southern California wildfires of 2003 |journal=Occupational and Environmental Medicine |volume=66 |issue=3 |pages=189–197 |doi=10.1136/oem.2008.041376 |pmc=4176821 |pmid=19017694}}</ref> Another epidemiological study found a 7.2% (95% confidence interval: 0.25%, 15%) increase in risk of respiratory related hospital admissions during smoke wave days with high wildfire-specific particulate matter 2.5 compared to matched non-smoke-wave days.<ref name=":11" />

Children participating in the Children's Health Study were also found to have an increase in eye and respiratory symptoms, medication use and physician visits.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kunzli |first1=N. |last2=Avol |first2=E. |last3=Wu |first3=J. |last4=Gauderman |first4=W.J. |last5=Rappaport |first5=E. |last6=Millstein |first6=J. |date=2006 |title=Health Effects of the 2003 Southern California Wildfires on Children |journal=American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine |volume=174 |issue=11 |pages=1221–1228 |doi=10.1164/rccm.200604-519OC |pmc=2648104 |pmid=16946126}}</ref> Mothers who were pregnant during the fires gave birth to babies with a slightly reduced average birth weight compared to those who were not exposed. Suggesting that pregnant women may also be at greater risk to adverse effects from wildfire.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Holstius |first1=David M. |last2=Reid |first2=Colleen E. |last3=Jesdale |first3=Bill M. |last4=Morello-Frosch |first4=Rachel |date=2012 |title=Birth Weight Following Pregnancy During the 2003 Southern California Wildfires |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=120 |issue=9 |pages=1340–1345 |doi=10.1289/ehp.1104515 |pmc=3440113 |pmid=22645279|bibcode=2012EnvHP.120.1340H }}</ref> Worldwide, it is estimated that 339,000 people die due to the effects of wildfire smoke each year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnston |first1=Fay H. |last2=Henderson |first2=Sarah B. |last3=Chen |first3=Yang |last4=Randerson |first4=James T. |last5=Marlier |first5=Miriam |last6=DeFries |first6=Ruth S. |last7=Kinney |first7=Patrick |last8=Bowman |first8=David M.J.S. |last9=Brauer |first9=Michael |title=Estimated Global Mortality Attributable to Smoke from Landscape Fires |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |date=May 2012 |volume=120 |issue=5 |pages=695–701 |doi=10.1289/ehp.1104422 |pmid=22456494 |pmc=3346787 |bibcode=2012EnvHP.120..695J }}</ref>

Besides the size of PM, their chemical composition should also be considered. Antecedent studies have demonstrated that the chemical composition of PM<sub>2.5</sub> from wildfire smoke can yield different estimates of human health outcomes as compared to other sources of smoke such as solid fuels.<ref name=":11" />[[File:Sediment off the Yucatan Peninsula.jpg|thumb|Sediment off the Yucatán Peninsula]]