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Author(s):
Davide Frumento, Stefan Țãlu
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Wildland Firefighter Health

NRFSN number: 27403
Record updated:

Wildfires have become a significant environmental and public health concern worldwide, particularly due to their increased frequency and intensity driven by climate change. Wildfire smoke, composed of a complex mixture of particulate matter, gases and chemicals, has been linked to numerous health issues, primarily affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. However, emerging evidence suggests that wildfire smoke exposure also has profound effects on the immune system. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on how wildfire smoke exposure affects the human immune system, including acute and chronic impacts, underlying mechanisms and potential long-term consequences. The review discusses the role of inflammation, oxidative stress and immune cell modulation in response to wildfire smoke, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand these effects.

Citation

Frumento D and Țãlu S. 2024. Effects of Wildfire Exposure on the Human Immune System. Fire journal 7(12), 469. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7120469

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