Assessing the Evidence for Differential Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke Across Fires and Populations: A Critical Review of Recent Studies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose of review To evaluate the recent literature on differential exposure to and health risks from wildfire smoke across subpopulations, whether wildfire-derived PM 2.5 affects health differently from non-wildfire-derived PM 2.5 , and how wildfire smoke composition affects health. Recent Findings We found inconsistent evidence of differential exposure to and health risks from wildfire PM 2.5 by population subgroups. This could be due to variation in wildfire PM 2.5 infiltration into buildings and ability to take individual protective actions, both of which have been noted to be related to socio-economic status in the recent scientific literature. Respiratory health endpoints have been the most consistent and commonly evaluated health outcome in studies of wildfire smoke; additional research is needed to resolve conflicting findings for non-respiratory health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular disease). Although some recent studies have documented larger health risks from wildfire-derived as compared to non-wildfire-derived PM 2.5 , we document how further research could evaluate whether these findings are confounded by type of fuel burned, due to methodological concerns, or are true. We also conclude that more research is necessary to elucidate potential differences in health risks of constituents of wildfire smoke other than PM 2.5 or from burning of different fuels. Summary Wildfire smoke is projected to continue to increase. We encourage future research to move away from further documentation of respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke, which has been very well established, into studies of other health endpoints that have been less well studied to date, more exploration into health effects from wildfire smoke constituents other than PM2.5 and from different types of fires (i.e., wildland urban interface (WUI) fires versus wildland fires), and additional exploration of remaining uncertainties with a goal of further supporting public health protection from wildfire smoke.
Authors: Colleen E. Reid, Sheryl Magzamen
Institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,990
OpenAlex ID: W7166691430