This example demonstrates how researchers have linked wildfire smoke exposure data with health outcome data, for a pediatric population, across a seven-year study period. Researchers utilized health data from a single hospital network allowing for linkages across a longer study period compared to previous studies.

Summary:

Aguilera et al. (2021) examined associations between wildfire smoke exposures and pediatric visits for respiratory outcomes from 2011 – 2017 in San Diego County, California. Pediatric ED and urgent care respiratory visit data were obtained from a hospital network which provided medical care for 91% of the County’s hospitalized children. Primary health outcomes were assessed using chief complaints (difficulty breathing, respiratory distress, wheezing, asthma, or cough). These health data were linked with wildfire-specific fine PM2.5 and studied using modeled daily concentrations at the zip code level over a longer study period of seven years and larger area compared to previous studies.

Exposure Data	Health Data
California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection	Rady Children's Hospital Network
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Air Quality System (AQS)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazard Mapping System (HMS)

Supporting Publication:

Fine Particles in Wildfire Smoke and Pediatric Respiratory Health in California

Aguilera R, Corringham T, Gershunov A, Leibel S, Benmarhnia T. Fine Particles in Wildfire Smoke and Pediatric Respiratory Health in California. Pediatrics. 2021 Apr;147(4):e2020027128. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-027128. Epub 2021 Mar 23. PMID: 33757996. [Abstract]