Innate immune cell contribution in wood smoke induced effects to pulmonary function
Innate immune cell contribution in wood smoke induced effects to pulmonary function Wildfires are a growing global issue, and a significant concern for public health. Each year, wildfires continue to make headlines as tens of thousands of fires and millions of acres burn around the world. Due to the effects of climate change, these wildfires have become more intense and longer burning. Although wildfires threaten lives directly, and wildfire smoke affects us all—particularly as the intensity and duration of wildfires escalates globally. exciting new preliminary data shows that individuals from a community inundated with hazardous levels of wildfire smoke (daily average: 220.9 µg/m3 of PM2.5) for 49 days exhibited a significant decrease in lung function at least two years after the wildfire event, with a greater effect observed in the older (>65 years) fraction of the cohort. Moreover, we demonstrate pulmonary inflammation and airway hyperreactivity, facilitated by cytokine mediators in