Christopher Michel/Flickr
We kick off our first episode of 2021 by looking at future trends in policy and research with host Meagan Cantwell and several
Science news writers. Ann Gibbons talks about upcoming studies that elucidate social ties among ancient humans, Jeffrey Mervis discusses relations between the United States and China, and Paul Voosen gives a rundown of two Mars rover landings.
In research news, Meagan Cantwell talks with Leda Kobziar, an associate professor of wildland fire science at the University of Idaho, Moscow, about the living component of wildfire smoke microbes. The bacteria and fungi that hitch a ride on smoke can impact both human health and ecosystems but Kobziar says much more research is needed.
Wildfire Smoke Can Carry Dangerous Microbes Thousands of Miles, Scientists Warn
Smoke from the Woolsey Fire in California in 2018. Copernicus Sentinel
Scientists are warning that wildfire smoke can carry microbes that cause infectious diseases, adding another public health concern to the worsening severity of wildfires across the globe. The analysis, published in the journal
Science, said there while the pulmonary and cardiovascular consequences of wildfire smoke inhalation have been well researched, the risk of potential infection from airborne microbes has not.
The fungus coccidioides, for example, becomes airborne when soils are disturbed by fire. When inhaled, it can cause Valley fever, an infection with flu-like symptoms that in more severe cases can progress to pneumonia or meningitis. Risk of inhalation of these infectious microbes is highest closest to the fire the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually lists coccidioidomycosis as a professional
WHYY
By
Joanne LuDecember 23, 2020
Smoky skies cast a reddish glow to San Francisco skies when the Northern California wildfires were burning earlier this year. (Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
It’s no secret that inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases.
The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on research that found wildfire smoke is teeming with thousands of species of microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores, are known to cause disease.
Until now, it’s been widely accepted that the greatest risk to human health from smoke are the tiny particles from burning wood and other materials. Some of those particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs, triggering allergic reactions in some people or exacerbating lung diseases such as asthma in others.
We All Know Smoke Is Bad For Your Health. It Could Be Worse Than You Think By Joanne Lu | NPR
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Smoky skies cast a reddish glow to San Francisco skies when the Northern California wildfires were burning earlier this year.
Ray Chavez / MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images
It s no secret that inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases.
The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on research that found wildfire smoke is teeming with thousands of species of microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores, are known to cause disease.
Smoky skies cast a reddish glow to San Francisco skies when the northern California wildfires were burning earlier this year. Credit: MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images
We All Know Smoke Is Bad For Your Health. It Could Be Worse Than You Think By
at 4:08 am NPR
It s no secret that inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases.
The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on research that found wildfire smoke is teeming with thousands of species of microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores, are known to cause disease.