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

The Seattle skyline on a foggy or smokey day with the freeway leading into it

At every age, cleaner air means better health

Tiny pollution particles can cause major health problems. Our research shows how to minimize your risk.

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A forest fire on a ridge against a darkened sky next to a river with a bridge crossing.

Keeping forests and people healthy

Consensus approach proposed to protect human health from intentional and wild forest fires

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Woman in hijab and safety glasses pours tan-colored liquid from a large bucket into a large beaker.

Building community resilience to climate change

DEOHS grad student Daaniya Iyaz studies how wildfire smoke impacts kids’ health

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Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire Smoke Rule

A study of the Washington state Wildfire Smoke Rule to protect outdoor worker health funded by the UW Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies

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Three-part image including photos of a woman holding an air pollution monitor outside, two people in masks and face shields in a lab holding water samples, and firefighters fighting a wildfire.

Our most-read stories of 2021

Collaboration, community health and clean air: counting down our top 10 blog posts of 2021

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Two kids bike and one kid walks through flood water with a yellow shuttered building in the background.

Climate change sounds ‘code red’ for health

Climate crisis gravely threatens human health, according to new Lancet Countdown report coauthored by DEOHS researchers

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In the news

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

LA wildfires drove a lot more virtual medical visits
December 1, 2025 | Futurity | Featured: Joan Casey View

Doctors warn wildfire smoke could raise preterm birth risk
November 18, 2025 | Fox 13 | Featured: Catherine Karr View

Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
November 12, 2025 | The Conversation | Featured: Howard Frumkin View

Wildfire smoke could increase risk of premature birth, PNW scientists say
November 11, 2025 | KOIN | Featured: Catherine Karr View