Inequitable exposure to wildfire smoke

Inequitable wildfire smoke exposure in California

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Joan Casey shows that some California communities are disproportionately exposed to wildfire air pollution.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:04] Joan Casey, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Washington, describes recent decades of wildfire in California.
•[01:34] Casey describes the environmental equity issues of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution.
•[02:26] Casey describes why she chose to study the equity of wildfire smoke pollution exposure.
•[03:01] She explains the results of the study, showing that by one definition of disadvantaged communities, smoke exposure appeared equitable. Another measure, including racial and ethnic identity data, showed inequitable exposure.
•[05:26] Casey explores possible reasons for this inequitable exposure.
•[06:21] The benefits of improved air monitoring among marginalized communities.
•[07:34] Caveats and limitations of the study.
•[08:35] Next steps in this line of research.
•[09:27] Hopes for policy impacts.
•[10:22] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Joan Casey
Assistant Professor
University of Washington School of Public Health

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2306729121

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