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Workplace Exposures May Mask Wildfire Smoke-Related Exposure Inequities and Mortality
Abas Shkembi1, Sara D Adar2, Richard L Neitzel1,3
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Environmental Science & Technology Letters
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Millions of outdoor workers face wildfire smoke exposure, with non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic American communities experiencing disproportionately higher work-related risks. Understanding these workplace exposures is crucial for health equity and adaptation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks to outdoor workers.
- Existing research often overlooks work-related wildfire smoke exposure and its potential health disparities.
- Comprehensive data on the extent and demographic impact of this exposure in the US is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify work-related wildfire fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure across US counties.
- To investigate potential racial and ethnic disparities in both ambient and work-related wildfire smoke exposure.
- To explore differential all-cause mortality effects stratified by workplace wildfire smoke exposure.
Main Methods:
- Integrated wildfire smoke-specific PM2.5 data with workplace activity and employment data for 3,108 US counties (2006-2019).
- Compared county demographic composition with exposure data to identify differential exposures.
- Replicated and stratified mortality analyses based on workplace exposure levels.
Main Results:
- Counties with higher proportions of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Americans showed greater work-related wildfire PM2.5 exposure, despite lower ambient exposure.
- Suggestive evidence indicates that ambient wildfire smoke's impact on all-cause mortality may vary with workplace exposure.
- Workplace exposures represent a critical, yet often overlooked, component of wildfire smoke risk.
Conclusions:
- Workplace wildfire smoke exposure is not evenly distributed and disproportionately affects minority populations.
- Wildfire smoke adaptation strategies must incorporate occupational exposure considerations for effective public health protection.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mortality impacts and inform targeted interventions.
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