Cardiopulmonary Risk Assessment from Smoke Exposure at the Wildland Urban Interface

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PROJECT SUMMARY Acute and chronic wildland fire smoke inhalation have been linked to increased mortality as well as respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, though the extent to which the frequency and duration of exposure or the chemical and particle profiles of the smoke contribute to the observed health effects remains unknown. As the occurrences of wildland fires and number of people living at the wildland urban interface (WUI) continue to increase, prolonged inhalation of wildland fire smoke poses a serious threat to public health. Due to this, there is an urgent need to better understand the adverse cardiopulmonary outcomes associated with the exposure to wildland urban smoke. The smoke that arises from wildland fires at the WUI is a complex mixture of gases, trace metals, and fine and ultrafine particles. The latter are particularly dangerous for human health, since they deposit in the deep regions of the lungs and may translocate into the blood stream, increasing the oxidative and inflammatory burden, both locally and systemically. Prolonged inflammation can lead to the development of obstructive lung disease and atherosclerosis. To investigate the link between exposure to WUI smoke and development of cardiopulmonary dysfunction, our interdisciplinary team brings together expertise in fire generation and characterization, rodent aerosol exposures, respiratory mechanics, lung biology, and cardiovascular physiology. To fulfill our goals, we will create lab-scale smoke using materials representative of WUI regions in Southern California and we will deliver it to mice. In Aim 1, we will investigate the role of frequency and duration of the exposure, as well as particulate concentration of the wildland fire smoke. In Aim 2, we will focus on the relative contribution of different fuel sources characteristic of the WUI. Furthermore, as part of this ONES early-stage-investigator project, the PI and co-Is will generate an external advisory panel consisting of inhalation toxicology researchers, public health advocates, and fire protection experts. Dissemination of new knowledge gained from this proposal to the community will be a vital part of this endeavor.