What is wildfire smoke?
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases. As a wildfire burns, different compounds are released in the smoke, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (PM). The toxicity of wildfire smoke can change very quickly depending on factors in the wildfire environment, such as weather, fire behavior, and the type of vegetation burning. Because of this, wildfire smoke exposure can be hazardous for anyone, including outdoor workers.
How can wildfire smoke affect an outdoor worker's health?
Outdoor workers in the Pacific Northwest can have different individual risk factors such as age and health conditions (e.g., pre-existing heart or lung disease) that make them more likely to be affected by wildfire smoke. Some health effects known or suspected to be caused by wildfire smoke include:
- Eye irritation, sore throat, wheeze, and cough,
- Asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia,
- Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) outcomes, and
- Adverse birth outcomes
Recent PNASH studies have explored how we can better understand the burden, need, and impact of wildfire smoke on agricultural workers:
- Combined Burden of Heat and Particulate Matter Air Quality in WA Agriculture
- Smoke Monitoring for Agricultural Safety and Health (SMASH)
- A 2018 student-led study found that nearly 75% of surveyed farmworkers near Mattawa, Washington reported being exposed to an unhealthy amount of wildfire smoke on the job, and 100% of respondents reported that they had little or no information about how to protect themselves from smoke.
The resources below are designed to help employers and workers practice wildfire smoke safety.
Employer Checklists
Workplace Requirements
Recommended resources for wildfire smoke safety
Northwest regional resources
Washington
WA Smoke Blog
WA Dept. of Health
WA Air Quality Monitoring Map
WA Air Quality Advisor (WAQA)
WA Dept. of Labor
WA Rulemaking
Oregon
OR Smoke Blog
OR Health Authority
OR Air Quality Monitoring Map
OR Dept of Labor
OR Rulemaking
Idaho
ID Smoke Blog
ID Dept. of Health & Welfare
ID Air Quality Monitoring Map
ID Department of Environmental Quality
Alaska
AK Fire Info
AK Dept. of Health & Social Services
AK Air Quality Monitoring
AK Wildfire Smoke
AK Wildfire Smoke Particulate Matter Information
Cal/OSHA Worker Safety and Health in Wildfire Regions
