| Western Center for Agricultural Health
and Safety University of California, Davis Asthma and other airway diseases in Western agriculture Jane Koenig, University of Washington, Department of Environmental Health, Seattle, WA Understanding the health effects of particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a top priority for US EPA and the health community. One source of PM is vegetative burning, including wood smoke from residential wood stoves and smoke from burning of agricultural fields. There are many known health effects of PM: mortality, increased hospital admissions, increased visits to emergency departments for asthma, decreased lung function, and increased airway inflammation. However, since PM is emitted from many sources, it is difficult to assign a particular health endpoint to a particulate source such as agricultural burning. There are only a few studies that investigated the health effects associated with agricultural burning. In general, these studies support the hypothesis that agricultural smoke is irritating to the respiratory system. Studies have reported asthma aggravation and increased respiratory symptoms in subjects with chronic respiratory disease. However, more research is needed to better understand the threat to human health resulting from agricultural field burning. UC Davis Health System is pleased to provide this information for general reference purposes only. It should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice. You are urged to consult with your health care provider for diagnosis of and treatment for any health-related condition. The information provided herein may not and should not be used for diagnosis and treatment. Reproduction of material on this web site is hereby granted solely for personal use. No other use of this material is authorized without prior written approval of UC Regents. |