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

DEOHS Professor Elena Austin stands in a parking lot outside a school holding an air monitoring instrument.

Monitoring air quality in schools

Does ultrafine air pollution infiltrate schools near Sea-Tac Airport? DEOHS researchers partner with cities in South King County to find out.

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Three people with face masks on stand in front of a fence with houses in background. Person in middle holds a clipboard and pen, person on right gives a peace sign and is wearing a t-shirt that reads "SERVE LOCAL."

Our most-read stories of 2020

From COVID-19 to wildfire smoke: counting down our top stories from Health & Safety Matters, the DEOHS blog

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Worker approaches a blazing wildfire in a forest.

The health effects of wildfire smoke

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

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Three people in hard hats work on a hillside with a small fire burning, one spraying water from a hose.

Living with fire

DEOHS and The Nature Conservancy bring health into future West Coast forest management

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Two forest workers in a forest, one in the foreground cutting a tree trunk with a chainsaw wearing a helmet, ear protection, safety visor, orange vest and gloves.

Virtual training for wildfire prevention

New DEOHS-led project develops VR simulations to protect health and safety of forest workers who fend off wildfires

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3 people wearing face masks stand next to weather monitoring equipment inside a chain-link fence.

Heat, fire, smoke and health in Washington’s ag industry

DEOHS researchers investigate the combined health effects of wildfire smoke and heat on Washington’s agricultural workforce and test strategies to protect workers and crops

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In the news

Wildfire communication gaps persist for Spanish speakers in Washington. These groups are working to close them
May 30, 2025 | Northwest Public Broadcasting | Featured: Maria Blancas View

DOGE withdraws remaining $866 of UW researcher’s grant, reflecting contradictory mission of the EPA
May 28, 2025 | The Daily | Featured: Elena Austin View

Hurricanes, fires, floods: A rising threat to cancer care
May 20, 2025 | Medscape | Featured: Joan Casey View

In California, flawed air rules threaten farmworkers as wildfires pump more smoke onto fields
May 19, 2025 | Inside Climate News | Featured: Edward Kasner View

DOGE canceled this UW scientist’s grant — to save just $866
May 10, 2025 | The Seattle Times | Featured: Elena Austin View