Project Summary

In high wildfire activity areas such as California, and increasingly with climate change, it is critical to understand wildfire smoke exposure impacts accurately so that more effective and sustainable public health actions can be taken. The research team's long-­term actionable aim was to identify spatiotemporal factors that increase vulnerability of people to wildfire smoke exposure, as well as more accurate specification of the exposure-­disease relationship.

The purpose of this multi-­disciplinary sustainability work was to resolve key technical issues related to atmospheric modeling used to develop environmental exposure metrics for a future planned health and geospatial vulnerability study. To address these atmospheric modeling (exposure assessment) issues, the team convened a workshop with the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity, a partner on the project. Through the project, the team developed a white paper, refined their methodology as input to future grant proposals, and strengthened their collaborative partnerships. The team also hosted and recorded research seminars to broaden the impact of the team’s scholarship and to involve students and faculty.

Achieving the long­-term goal of enhanced understanding of health impacts of climate change from wildfire smoke exposure and identification of vulnerable communities will enhance mitigation measures and planning which can be used in on-­going risk assessment and planning to improve public health, equity, sustainability and preparedness.

Academic Publications

• Mapping Modeled Exposure of Wildland Fire Smoke for Human Health Studies in California (Atmosphere | June 2019)

Tools & Resources:

• Health Effects Of The 2008 Northern California Wildfires: a spatiotemporal approach
  • Video recording

This project received a $10,000 Emerging Opportunities Fall Catalyst Grant in 2017.

Project team: Patricia Koman, PI (Public Health | U-M Ann Arbor); Allison Steiner, Co-I (Engineering | U-M Ann Arbor); Marie O’Neill, Co-I (Public Health | U-M Ann Arbor); Tim Dvonch, Co-I (Public Health | U-M Ann Arbor); Nancy French (Michigan Technological University); Shiliang Wu (Michigan Technological University); Colleen Reid (University of Colorado at Boulder); Sumi Hoshiko (California Department of Public Health).