NPR | “New wildfire health data: UCLA researchers surveyed how blazes hurt”
NPR (KPCC-FM) reported on the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's latest findings on health in the aftermath of California wildfires.
NPR (KPCC-FM) reported on the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's latest findings on health in the aftermath of wildfires, quoting scholar Todd Hughes, director of the California Health Interview Survey. The survey released its annual report for 2024 in October.
“ We observed higher rates of having an asthma attack in the past 12 months among those who had experienced smoke from a wildfire in the past two years,” said Todd Hughes, director of the California Health Interview Survey.
That was about five percentage points higher compared to those who didn’t get exposed to wildfire smoke.
The survey also looked beyond the physical to explore mental health effects.
Among adults, 1 in 6 who experienced wildfires in the past two years said it hurt their mental health, while 1 in 7 who dealt with smoke said they also struggled mentally.
“ These data reflect the respondent’s own self-assessment of any mental health impact,” Hughes said.
Read and listen to the NPR/KPCC-FM report.
