As wildfire smoke continues to affect Washington, public health experts are warning that exposure to smoke, particularly during periods of poor air quality, can affect more than the lungs, with research linking it to respiratory and cardiovascular problems and emerging concerns about mental health. Children, older adults, people with chronic health conditions and outdoor workers are among those who can face heightened risks.
Those risks can be compounded in communities already exposed to higher levels of air pollution, including parts of South Seattle where residents live near highways, industrial activity and the airport, according to University of Washington public health experts.
Anjum Hajat, an associate professor of epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health, said children, older adults and people with pre-existing chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke…