The health effects of wildfire smoke

Worker approaches a blazing wildfire in a forest.

DEOHS wildfire experts are investigating how smoke affects our health and strategies to reduce its impacts

 

DEOHS wildfire smoke experts were featured in a recent webinar hosted by the UW School of Public Health

Wildfires are natural and inevitable in our forestlands. Climate change is making our wildfire seasons longer, hotter and more dangerous.

The UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) has a long history of leading research into the impacts of wildfires on human health.

Through our research and outreach activities, DEOHS faculty and students are building our understanding of how wildfire smoke can damage our health and the best ways to protect people and communities from harm.

Learn about our impact, research and expertise below.

Our impact

A bronze sculpture on the UW campus of a human figure seated with hands on knees, eyes closed  and a large flat circle on forehead. The sculpture is covered in light snow, with buildings, bare deciduous trees and an evergreen in the background..

Four new faculty members join DEOHS in 2024-2025

New assistant professors tackle emerging environmental conditions influencing dementia, birth outcomes, fertility and vector-borne disease

LEARN MORE
Interior art at Hans Rosling Center

Our top 10 stories of 2024

DEOHS welcomes interim department chair, continues frontline health and safety work

LEARN MORE
Trees on a hillside with smoke billowing in the foreground. Orange flames srround one of the trees against an orangish brown sky.

RETRACTED AND REPLACED: UW-led research links wildfire smoke exposure with increased dementia risk

DEOHS researcher Joan Casey calls wildfire smoke "a different animal"

LEARN MORE
A woman holds a small blood collection device against her upper arm.

Sparking biochemical insights into wildfire smoke exposure

Spurred on by EDGE Center grant, UW Professor Ashleigh Theberge's home blood-sampling system examines impacts of wildfire smoke 

LEARN MORE
Person in a sweatshirt picking apples

Protecting crop workers under the sun and smoke

DEOHS research in agriculture industry aims to increase worker health and safety in heat and wildfire smoke

LEARN MORE
Mike Yost stands at a lectern, facing a crowd (not visible). He wears a dark jacket and purple tie. In the background is a tall banner.

Leading with community as a North Star

DEOHS Chair Michael Yost steps down after 10 years 

LEARN MORE

In the news

Study: Wildfire smoke may increase the risk of pre-term births
November 6, 2025 | KIRO | Featured: Catherine Karr View

New study links wildfire smoke to premature births
November 5, 2025 | HealthDay | Featured: Catherine Karr View

Wildfire smoke associated with premature births, study
November 5, 2025 | Daily Jang | Featured: Catherine Karr View

UW-led study links wildfire smoke to increased odds of preterm birth
November 5, 2025 | Alaska Native News | Featured: Catherine Karr View

Wildfire pollution may lead to premature births
November 5, 2025 | MSN | Featured: Catherine Karr View