Grant: Project Grant

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, and the smoke they produce is an increasing threat to public health. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles and other pollutants that can travel long distances and affect large populations. Exposure to these pollutants has been linked to breathing problems and possibly other health issues, but yet important questions remain about who is most at risk and the overall magnitude of these health impacts. In the summer of 2023, Quebec experienced one of the most severe wildfire seasons in its history. Smoke from these fires affected large parts of eastern North America, but the health impacts on the Quebec population remain largely unknown. This project will examine how exposure to wildfire smoke during the 2023 wildfire season affected health in Quebec. We will study impacts across different stages of life, including pregnancy, childhood, and adulthood. Specifically, we will investigate whether wildfire smoke exposure is associated with adverse birth outcomes, respiratory problems in children, and respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses or deaths among adults. To do this, we will combine population-wide health databases covering the entire province of Quebec with refined estimates of wildfire smoke exposure generated from advanced air pollution modeling approaches. Using advanced epidemiological methods, we will evaluate the health effects of wildfire smoke and identify groups that may be more vulnerable, such as older adults, children, or people with pre-existing health conditions. By improving our understanding of the health risks of wildfire smoke, this project will generate evidence to help public health authorities better prepare for future wildfire events in Quebec, across Canada, and in other regions increasingly affected by wildfire smoke.