![waves v9 r21 waves v9 r21](https://i1.rgstatic.net/publication/338390803_The_preconception_environment_and_sperm_epigenetics/links/5e3ca8b5a6fdccd9658e0d93/largepreview.png)
![waves v9 r21 waves v9 r21](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/RMCN4X/annual-data-summary-for-1983-cerc-field-research-facility-oceanographic-research-water-waves-zhzquotu-uishoq-xqoq-wr-a-i-co-hv-quotd-fr-d-eoi-9-g-oi-rj-quotd-r-!n-qo-d-y-r-es-d-ds-to-id-s-oo-iriiiir1ir-y-ooooooooooo-dotdkltisiprrcf-d-please-note-that-these-images-are-extracted-from-scanned-page-images-that-may-have-been-digitally-enhanced-for-readability-coloration-and-appearance-of-these-illustrations-may-not-perfectly-resemble-the-original-work-miller-h-carl-grogg-william-e-leffler-michael-w-townsend-c-ray-wheeler-stephen-c-u-RMCN4X.jpg)
Dominici et al., 2006 Schwartz et al., 1996). Gielen et al., 1997), to hospital admissions or death (e.g. Acute exposure to PM 2.5 is associated with various health outcomes, from increased medication use or respiratory symptoms (e.g. Chronic exposure to PM 2.5 can lead to chronical diseases or reduced life expectancy (e.g. This pollutant is known to harm human health when produced by other sources (e.g., transportation, industry). Smoke from wildfires contains large abundances of fine airborne particulate matter (PM 2.5) ( Ammann et al., 2001 Dennis et al., 2002 Lighty et al., 2000 Sapkota et al., 2005). In the coming decades, wildfires are anticipated to pose a growing threat ( Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health, 2010), especially in the western US, where wildfires are common ( Brown et al., 2004 Littell et al., 2009 Westerling et al., 2006). The study also adds to the growing literature arguing that extreme events in a changing climate could have significant consequences for human health.Ĭlimate change has increased the frequency, intensity and spread of wildfires ( Spracklen et al., 2009). Results point to the potential health impacts of increasing wildfire activity on large numbers of people in a warming climate and the need to establish or modify US wildfire management and evacuation programs in high-risk regions. Northern California, Western Oregon and the Great Plains are likely to suffer the highest exposure to widlfire smoke in the future. Under future climate change, we estimate that more than 82 million individuals will experience a 57% and 31% increase in the frequency and intensity, respectively, of Smoke Waves. For 2004-2009, on days exceeding regulatory PM 2.5 standards, wildfires contributed an average of 71.3% of total PM 2.5. We develop an interactive map to demonstrate the counties likely to suffer from future high wildfire pollution events. We create a new term “Smoke Wave,” defined as ≥2 consecutive days with high wildfire-specific PM 2.5, to describe episodes of high air pollution from wildfires. Future estimates are obtained under a scenario of moderately increasing greenhouse gases by mid-century. We estimate levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) directly attributable to wildfires in 561 western US counties during fire seasons for the present-day (2004-2009) and future (2046-2051), using a fire prediction model and GEOS-Chem, a 3-D global chemical transport model. Identifying communities that will be most affected will inform development of fire management strategies and disaster preparedness programs. While the potential impacts of climate change on wildfires and resulting air pollution have been studied, it is not known who will be most affected by the growing threat of wildfires. Wildfire can impose a direct impact on human health under climate change.