Exposure to fine particulate air pollution from wildfire smoke is not only damaging to lungs and hearts it’s also harming mental health. according to a new study led by researchers at the harvard t.h. chan school of public health, short-term exposure to wildfire-specific pm2.5 has been linked to increased emergency room visits for mental health conditions across california.
kari nadeau study’s senior author and chair of the department of environmental health “wildfire smoke isn’t just a respiratory issue it affects mental health, too our study suggests that smoke itself, in addition to the trauma wildfires cause, may directly worsen conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.”
Study to isolate the specific effects of wildfire-related pm2.5 on mental health. while previous research has connected air pollution to physical health issues, and even hinted at mental health effects, few studies have focused solely on pollution from wildfires.
Researchers examined daily levels of wildfire-specific pm2.5 and emergency department visits for mental health conditions across california during the 2020 wildfire season, which was one of the most severe on record. the study tracked data from july to december 2020, covering every zip code in the state.
over the study period, california saw 86,588 mental health-related emergency room visits. the average daily level of wildfire-specific pm2.5 was 6.95 micrograms per cubic meter of air, peaking at 24.9 in september. a 10-unit rise in pm2.5 levels was associated with a noticeable jump in visits for depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and substance use, with effects lasting up to seven days after exposure.
The study also uncovered troubling disparities. women, children, young adults, black and hispanic communities, and medicaid recipients were most affected. “the disparities in impact by race, sex, age, and insurance status suggest that existing health inequities may be worsened by wildfire smoke exposure,” said lead author younsoo jung.
As wildfires become more frequent and intense due to climate change, the researchers emphasized the urgent need to improve access to mental health care especially for the most vulnerable.
“we need to make sure everyone has access to mental health care during wildfire seasons,” nadeau said. “that includes planning, funding, and public health outreach, particularly in frontline and underserved communities.”