Fine Particles in Wildfire Smoke and Pediatric Respiratory Health in California

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-027128
• Publication Date: 2021-03-23T08:25:20Z
• Authors: Rosana Aguilera; Thomas Corringham; Alexander Gershunov; Sydney Leibel; Tarik Benmarhnia
• Keywords: Adolescent; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Environmental Exposure; Respiration Disorders; Ambulatory Care Facilities; California; Wildfires; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 13. Climate action; Child, Preschool; Smoke; Humans; Particulate Matter; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure to airborne fine particles with diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) pollution is a well-established cause of respiratory diseases in children; whether wildfire-specific PM2.5 causes more damage, however, remains uncertain. We examine the associations between and pediatric health during period 2011–2017 San Diego County, California, compare these results other sources PM2.5. METHODS: Visits emergency urgent care facilities Rady’s Children Hospital network by individuals (aged ≤19 years) ≥1 following conditions: difficulty breathing, distress, wheezing, asthma, or cough were regressed on daily, community-level exposure from ambient (eg, traffic emissions). RESULTS: A 10-unit increase (from nonsmoke sources) was estimated number admissions 3.7% (95% confidence interval: 1.2% 6.1%). In contrast, effect attributable wildfire be 30.0% 26.6% 33.4%) visits. CONCLUSIONS: Wildfire-specific found ∼10 times harmful children’s than sources, particularly for children aged 0 5 years. Even relatively modest wildfires associated resolved our record produced major impacts, younger children, comparison