Perceptions of and Responses to Wildfire Smoke Among New York State Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores how New York State residents experienced and responded to wildfire smoke in 2023, finding widespread health symptoms and insufficient protective measures.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into public health impacts and mitigation behaviors related to wildfire smoke in a non-fire-prone region.

Findings

Nearly all respondents experienced wildfire smoke and reported health symptoms like watery eyes and headaches.

Women reported symptoms more frequently than men, suggesting gender differences in health impacts.

Most respondents took mitigation actions, but symptoms persisted, indicating current strategies may be insufficient.

Abstract

Exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) is associated with detrimental physical and mental health. Periods of sustained WFS are predicted to increase with climate change, affecting populations globally. Using a retrospective cross-sectional study, we assessed perceptions of and responses to WFS in a cohort of New York State (NYS) residents in Summer 2023. Data were collected using an online survey from October to November 2023. Descriptive statistics summarized respondent experiences, while exploratory analyses identified high-risk populations using chi-square and t-tests. Our sample consisted of 609 primarily healthy, white, and well-educated individuals who spent most of their time in NYS during Summer 2023. Of the 99% that reported experiencing WFS, 92% received and 91% sought out WFS-related air quality information. While only 25% reported a WFS-related illness, 87% experienced at least one symptom with WFS, frequently citing watery eyes (63%), irritated throat (50%), and headaches (49%), with women reporting symptoms more frequently than men (89.1% vs. 81.6%; p = 0.034). A majority (93%) reported taking mitigation actions, including avoiding outdoor activities (75%) and wearing masks (54%). Our results highlight widespread impacts of wildfires in NYS during Summer 2023, with nearly all respondents reporting sustained periods of WFS. Most reported at least one adverse health symptom despite taking preventative measures, indicating that current protective strategies may be insufficient and more effective interventions are needed.

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