The health effects of wildfire smoke

Worker approaches a blazing wildfire in a forest.

DEOHS wildfire experts are investigating how smoke affects our health and strategies to reduce its impacts

 

DEOHS wildfire smoke experts were featured in a recent webinar hosted by the UW School of Public Health

Wildfires are natural and inevitable in our forestlands. Climate change is making our wildfire seasons longer, hotter and more dangerous.

The UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) has a long history of leading research into the impacts of wildfires on human health.

Through our research and outreach activities, DEOHS faculty and students are building our understanding of how wildfire smoke can damage our health and the best ways to protect people and communities from harm.

Learn about our impact, research and expertise below.

Our impact

Trees on a hillside with smoke billowing in the foreground. Orange flames srround one of the trees against an orangish brown sky.

RETRACTED AND REPLACED: UW-led research links wildfire smoke exposure with increased dementia risk

DEOHS researcher Joan Casey calls wildfire smoke "a different animal"

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A woman holds a small blood collection device against her upper arm.

Sparking biochemical insights into wildfire smoke exposure

Spurred on by EDGE Center grant, UW Professor Ashleigh Theberge's home blood-sampling system examines impacts of wildfire smoke 

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Person in a sweatshirt picking apples

Protecting crop workers under the sun and smoke

DEOHS research in agriculture industry aims to increase worker health and safety in heat and wildfire smoke

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Mike Yost stands at a lectern, facing a crowd (not visible). He wears a dark jacket and purple tie. In the background is a tall banner.

Leading with community as a North Star

DEOHS Chair Michael Yost steps down after 10 years 

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Yijie Geng, Diana Ceballos and Karen Chen stand in front of a mountain slope and trees.

New DEOHS faculty tour Washington state

Three new DEOHS faculty connect with communities and their environmental health concerns on UW Faculty Field Tour

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Hazy skies with a halo around the sun above mountains, evergreens and a hillside.

DEOHS targets emerging health threats with new population health awards

DEOHS researchers and partners awarded grants to tackle extreme cold, sea level rise, combined heat and smoke, and zoonotic disease

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In the news

Researchers retract, then re-publish study linking wildfire smoke and dementia
July 10, 2025 | CBC | Featured: Joan Casey View

As air quality worsens, UW scientist focuses on effects of wildfire smoke
July 3, 2025 | KUOW | Featured: Joan Casey View

Wildfire smoke linked to heart failure risk
July 3, 2025 | U.S. News and World Report | Featured: Joan Casey View

America’s coming smoke epidemic
June 27, 2025 | The Atlantic | Featured: Joan Casey View

Our Valley Our Future hosts wildfire resiliency symposium
June 27, 2025 | The Wenatchee World | Featured: Elizabeth Gribble (Walker) View