Keith Bein, an air-quality researcher at UC Davis, is a storm chaser of sorts, but for wildfires. He braves thick wildfire smoke to collect air samples and analyzes them both on-site and in the lab. In these intense situations, Bein is forced to focus on one thing: escaping the polluted air. This experience has given him firsthand knowledge of the effects of inhaling wildfire smoke.
This phenomenon, known as “smoke brain,” is characterized by a foggy feeling that arises from breathing in soot-filled air. Many people, especially those currently affected by Canadian wildfires in the United States, can relate to this sensation. Researchers have reason to believe that smoke brain is a real occurrence, drawing from studies on air pollution and extrapolating the effects to understand the impact of wildfire smoke on cognitive function. However, the scientific understanding of how wildfire smoke specifically affects the brain is still in its early stages.
The lack of research on the effects of wildfire smoke on cognitive function can be attributed to the unprecedented scale and frequency of wildfires in recent years. Previously, exposure to emissions from large-scale wildfires would occur only once in a person’s lifetime, if at all. However, the warming climate has intensified fires, leading to more frequent and severe events. As a result, more people are being exposed to wildfire smoke multiple times within a single season. Unfortunately, scientists are playing catch-up in studying the public health effects of this new reality.
Despite limited research on smoke brain, a few studies provide insight into its effects. For example, a recent paper published in Nature Sustainability found that smoke exposure correlated with lower test scores in over 11,000 school districts across the United States. Another study analyzed cognitive performance data from a brain-training game and discovered that medium and high levels of smoke density were associated with lower scores.
The link between air pollution and cognitive decline is well-established. Previous studies have shown that unclean air impairs performance in various tasks, such as chess competitions, stock trading, call center productivity, and cognitive assessments. Furthermore, exposure to particulate matter in the classroom has been shown to reduce students’ ability to focus on the material being presented.
Wildfire smoke may be even more toxic than common sources of air pollution, like car exhaust. The smoke particles contain harmful substances from the burned materials, such as homes and other structures. However, research on the neurological impacts of air pollution, including wildfires, is still relatively new. Until recently, focus primarily rested on the effects of smoke inhalation on the lungs and heart, rather than cognitive outcomes.
Understanding the neurological impacts of wildfires is crucial not only for public health but also for the economy. If an entire city’s population experiences slight cognitive impairments for a day or a week due to wildfire smoke, the economic costs could be significant. Researchers are still grappling with the challenge of distinguishing the effects of stress from the fire itself from the direct cognitive impacts of smoke inhalation.
Apart from smoke brain, inhaling wildfire smoke poses other health risks. Carlyn Matz from Health Canada highlights that wildfires exacerbate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and shorten life expectancy. Although research on the neurological and mental health impacts of smoke inhalation is still evolving, taking precautions to minimize exposure to wildfire smoke is advisable.
The scarcity of research on smoke brain reflects how quickly the landscape has changed. Millions of people have already experienced smoky air this year and are concerned about the lingering consequences. Beyond the scientific realm, our understanding of major fire planning, including evacuation policies, is also lagging. We are being propelled into an uncertain future by these large-scale wildfires, and it is crucial to catch up in our knowledge and preparedness.
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