Stephanie Cleland

(she/her)

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Thick smoke from wildfires blankets the area as people use paddleboards on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia in August 2021. Environment Canada had issued a heat warning and an air quality statement for much of the B.C. coast and interior. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfire smoke and extreme heat can occur together: Preparing for the combined health effects of a hot, smoky future

Stephanie Cleland, Simon Fraser University

Exposure to either wildfire smoke or extreme heat poses a significant threat to health. When they occur together, it may amplify the health risks of exposure.
A wildfire burns as an empty street in Jasper, Alta. is shown in this July 24, 2024 handout photo from the Jasper National Park Facebook page. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Facebook, Jasper National Park)

As wildfires become more frequent and intense, how will persistent smoke exposure affect long‑term health?

Stephanie Cleland, Simon Fraser University and Ryan W. Allen, Simon Fraser University

As communities are exposed to wildfire smoke more regularly and over longer durations year after year, it is critical to consider what these changing exposure patterns mean for our long-term health.
Thick wildfire smoke blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., in May 2023. Evidence linking wildfire smoke with adverse health effects has been accumulating for years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Wildfire smoke is an increasing threat to Canadians’ health

Ryan W. Allen, Simon Fraser University and Stephanie Cleland, Simon Fraser University

The notion that wildfire smoke is ‘natural,’ and therefore less harmful than other types of air pollution, is not supported by the evidence. Wildfire smoke has been linked to adverse health effects.

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