Evidence Aid newsletter: 15 June 2023

Welcome to Evidence Aid’s June newsletter,

In this month’s edition, we turn our attention to the recent hazy skies, hazardous air quality and pollution alerts that have continued to impact the Northeast United States, Canada, and parts of the UK including Scotland and England. Smoke from wildfires and worsening air pollution are just two facets of what has seemingly become a fifth season in many parts of the world: wildfire season. In response to the ongoing climate crisis and its impacts on wildfires and air pollution, this month’s newsletter will tailor its focus to several relevant evidence summaries, as well as important information on how to protect yourself from the effects of pollution.

In the “Upcoming projects” section of this newsletter, we are also excited to announce the launch of Phase 3 of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) and Evidence Aid evidence collection on resilient health systems in the context of disasters and other health emergencies. We hope you will let us know how we can improve it, so please do share any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas. We recognize the importance of your feedback and recommendations.

If you’d like to receive the email version of this newsletter, please reach out to info@evidenceaid.org. Thank you!

Wildfires and poor air quality: What are the impacts?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hazardous particulate matter known as PM2.5, are the greatest threat to your health. PM2.5 are particulates specifically found in smoke, the effects of which include respiratory problems including coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and worsening asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Like all other disasters, the effects of poor air quality are not felt equally. Although everyone is affected, older adults, pregnant individuals, children, infants and people with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions are more likely to get sick if exposed. For instance, in Evidence Aid’s systematic review of ‘The Impact of Air Pollution on Pregnancy Outcomes,’ it was found that high levels of air pollution are associated with DNA damage in newborns, an increase in illness and death in childhood, and increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Additional Evidence Aid summaries relevant to the impacts of poor air quality:

Assessing carbon monoxide as a surrogate measure of fine particulate matter for household air pollution. Citation: Carter E et al. Assessing exposure to household air pollution: a systematic review and pooled analysis of carbon monoxide as a surrogate measure of particulate matter. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2017;125(7):076002.

Interventions to improve indoor air quality: effects on household air pollution and health. Citation: Quansah R et al. Effectiveness of interventions to reduce household air pollution and/or improve health in homes using solid fuel in low-and-middle income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International. 2017;103:73-90.

Upcoming projects

Introducing Phase 3 of the Resilient Health Systems (RHS) Project:

The RHS collection is a wide variety of summaries that support preparedness, response and recovery, as well as sustaining and protecting public health gains in all phases of disaster. In collaboration with PAHO, we will enhance the collection to include topics ranging from evacuation from critical areas to addressing the needs of people with disabilities, identifying gaps, and publishing all summaries in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Continue checking back for updates on upcoming communications, webinars, and case studies during the next six months.

Additional Information

Social media: Our volunteers (Leen Khankan, Molly Murton, and Carmela Preciado) promote summaries, the work of Evidence Aid and other relevant information through our social media accounts below. Please follow us and share anything that is relevant to your colleagues.

Twitter @Evidence Aid

Facebook Page & Facebook Group

Linked In @Evidence Aid

Instagram @evidenceaid

Commissioned projects: Read more about our ongoing projects here.

Careers: Information about Evidence Aid staff, interns, advisors, and trustees can be seen here.

Volunteers: Vital to the ongoing work of Evidence Aid, volunteers are the backbone of our organization. From searching, screening, and downloading reviews to preparing and writing summaries, the work of volunteers is apparent in every ounce of material we produce. If you’re interested in joining our team please email info@evidenceaid.org.

Please share our June newsletter with anyone who might find its contents useful and interesting. If you don’t already receive our newsletters directly and would like to, please email info@evidenceaid.org. If you enjoy our work and agree that it’s important we continue through 2023, please consider donating here. Thank you for your support and continued reading!

And a final, exciting final thank you to our new partner, Evidence Synthesis Ireland