Impact of long-term exposure wildfire smog on respiratory health outcomes

ABSTRACT

Background: Air pollution is a global problem and also linked to respiratory diseases. Wildfire smog is a major cause of air pollution in the upper northern area of Thailand. Thus, in the current study, we examined whether long-term exposure to wildfire smog induces lung function changes in a population from the upper northern area of Thailand.

Methods: The lung function of 115 participants with long-term exposure smog was determined using peak flow meter.

Results: Long-term smoke exposure participants decreased FEV₁ (forced expiratory volume in 1 second)/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio (56.49 ± 23.88 in males and 56.29 ± 28.23 in females) compared with general Thai population. Moreover, the reduction of FVC, FEV₁, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values also showed in both male and female subjects. These results suggest that long-term smoke exposure induces obstructive lung abnormality. Moreover, itchy/watery nose, cough, phlegm, and chest pain also reported in these subjects.

Conclusion: Wildfire smog could be induced respiratory pathway inflammation and easily collapsible respiratory airways.

KEYWORDS:

• Forest fire
• pulmonary function
• wildfire smog

Article highlights

• The decrease of FCV, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC ratio indicates that long-term smoke exposure causes obstructive lung abnormality.

• Long-term inhalation of wood smoke cause limited lung function and airway obstruction.

• Smoke exposure caused lung function and diminished compliance of the lungs.

• Wildfire smog is linked to respiratory airway disease and lead to a deteriorating quality of life.

• Minimize risks from long-term exposure of wood smoke is necessary.

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Unit of Excellent in Research and Product Development of Coffee (no. UoE62007 to AO, AD) and Unit of Excellence on Clinical Outcomes Research and IntegratioN (UNICORN) (no. UoE62003 to AD, SS).