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

Three youth volunteers from Duwamish Valley Youth Corps smile wearing yellow safety vests, two giving a thumbs up, in a Duwamish Valley neighborhood in Seattle.

Empowering youth to seek climate solutions in their communities

DEOHS and Duwamish River Community Coalition join new program engaging Latino and Indigenous youth in community climate impacts

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Collage of two images: on left, wildfire smoke and fire in a Washington forest; on right, five farmworkers harvest lettuce in the heat under a canopy with hats and scarves.

Wildfire smoke and extreme heat projects win population health awards

DEOHS researchers and partners tackle health impacts of smoke and heat with new grants from UW Population Health Initiative

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A table of seven farmworkers and a child sit in the foreground having a discussion, with other tables of people in the background.

Supporting farmworker families through smoke season

Our PNASH Center and Wenatchee CAFÉ host community events to understand the concerns of farmworker parents

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Claire Schollaert sits on a bench on the UW campus.

Protecting communities while reducing wildfire risk

DEOHS PhD student wins Castner Award to support air quality research on prescribed burns

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A smoke plume rises from a wildfire on a hillside near a group of houses.

Planning for disaster

Disaster researchers gather at the University of Washington this week to consider how to integrate their research into future disaster response

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A plume of wildfire smoke behind the center of a small town showing brick buildings and cars.

6 ways communities can prepare for wildfire season

As smoke season continues in Washington, a new report outlines the best ways to communicate health and safety risks

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In the news

Repeal of EPA ‘endangerment finding’ endangers human health
February 25, 2026 | The Seattle Times | Featured: Howard Frumkin View

The evidence showing climate change endangers public health - contrary to Trump’s claim
February 12, 2026 | The Independent | Featured: Howard Frumkin View

Funding cuts could put research into emerging threats to lung health at risk
January 28, 2026 | Nature | Featured: Joan Casey View

After the L.A. County fires, heart attacks and strange blood test results spiked
December 17, 2025 | Los Angeles Times | Featured: Joan Casey View

UW study finds positive link between wildfire smoke inhalation during pregnancy and preterm births
December 2, 2025 | The Daily | Featured: Catherine Karr View