Exposure to wildfire smoke: NIOSH wants feedback on draft hazard review

Washington — NIOSH has published a draft of a hazard review document on wildfire smoke exposure among outdoor workers – and is asking for comment.

The agency developed the draft after assessing responses to a Request for Information issued in March.

“Farmworkers and other outdoor workers are likely to be exposed to wildland fire smoke,” the draft states. “They often spend long hours in the fields or on jobsites when wildland fire smoke is present, increasing their risk of adverse health effects from exposure to harmful particulate matter and chemicals.”

In the draft, NIOSH cites studies showing that exposure to particulate matter can trigger heart and lung problems and possibly death.

The agency wants feedback on several questions, including:

• How could the outdoor worker populations who may be exposed to wildfire smoke be more completely characterized?
• How could this document better identify and characterize the health hazards of exposures to wildfire smoke based on available scientific literature?
• What additional information should NIOSH consider adding or how should NIOSH modify the discussion of exposure assessment methods?
• What additional information should NIOSH consider to improve strategies for controlling exposure to wildfire smoke?

“This hazard review will close the gap in our knowledge about how exposure to wildfire smoke impacts outdoor workers,” NIOSH Director John Howard said in a press release. “With wildfires increasing in frequency and size, it is imperative that we have the knowledge and tools to protect the health of farmworkers and other outdoor workers who must perform their jobs even if the air quality is unhealthy or hazardous.”

Comments are due Nov. 12.