Wildfire Smoke and Your Health - August 2018

Breathing in smoke is bad for you, whether that smoke comes from cigarettes, wood stoves, or a burn pile in the back yard. In the heat of the Washington summer, however, there are also health impacts from smoke related to wildfires. According to news reports, 2017 was a record-breaking year for wildfires in Washington State. It’s important to understand that while research efforts to better understand specific health impacts are underway, much is still not fully understood. It is clear, however, that the fine particles and toxins in wood smoke cause health problems for a wide variety of people.  More information.