Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Inclusion Criteria
- Published in a peer-reviewed journal;
- Available in English language;
- Examines at least one topic related to wildfires;
- Examines how criterion (3) relates to older adults in at least one way.
2.2. Literature Search and Screening
- “older adult*” OR senior* OR elder* OR “older person*” OR “older people” OR geriatric* OR gerontolog* OR “old age” OR “long term care” OR “nursing home*” OR “assisted living” OR “independent living” OR “skilled nursing facilit*” OR “memory care” OR “residential care” OR “retirement communit*”;
- 2.
- wildfire* OR “wild fire*” OR bushfire* OR “bush fire*” OR bushfire* OR “forest fire*” OR “brush fire*” OR brushfire* OR “wildland fire*” OR “uncontrolled fire*” OR “fire season*”.
2.3. Data Extraction and Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Basic Characteristics of the Literature
3.2. Environmental: Hazards, Climate Change, and Disaster Recovery Cycle
3.3. Older Adult Findings
3.4. Thematic Topics, Problem-Focus, Interventions, Recommendations, and Future Research
3.5. Study Strengths and Limitations
4. Discussion
4.1. Wildfires and Older Adults: Increased Engagement and Trends
4.2. Dominant Narratives: Secondary Data and Epidemiological Studies
4.3. Older Adults: Lived Experiences and Primary Data Sources
4.4. Social Support and Community Focus
4.5. Elders and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
4.6. Increased Focus on (Un)Natural Disasters: Climate Change and Environmental Justice
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Masson Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., Connors, S.L., Péan, C., Berger, S., Caud, N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., Gomis, M.I., et al., Eds.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Levy, B.S.; Patz, J.A. Climate Change, Human Rights, and Social Justice. Ann. Glob. Health 2015, 81, 310–322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hoover, K.; Hanson, L.A. Wildfire Statistics. Congressional Research Service. Available online: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF10244.pdf (accessed on 8 December 2022).
- United Nations Environment Programme. Spreading Like Wildfire: The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Landscape Fires. 2022. Available online: http://www.unep.org/resources/report/spreading-wildfire-rising-threat-extraordinary-landscape-fires (accessed on 8 December 2022).
- Reid, C.E.; Brauer, M.; Johnston, F.H.; Jerrett, M.; Balmes, J.R.; Elliott, C.T. Critical Review of Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Exposure. Environ. Health Perspect. 2016, 124, 1334–1343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Stone, S.L.; Anderko, L.A.; Butler, C.R.; Cascio, W.E.; Clune, A.; Damon, S.; Garbe, P.; Hauptman, M.; Haskell, W.E.; Hoshiko, S.; et al. Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials|AirNow.Gov. 2019. Available online: https://www.airnow.gov/publications/wildfire-smoke-guide/wildfire-smoke-a-guide-for-public-health-officials/ (accessed on 8 December 2022).
- Henderson, S.B.; Brauer, M.; MacNab, Y.C.; Kennedy, S.M. Three Measures of Forest Fire Smoke Exposure and Their Associations with Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort. Environ. Health Perspect. 2011, 119, 1266–1271. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Mehmood, K.; Iqbal, M.; Abrar, M.M. Can Exposure to PM2.5 Particles Increase the Incidence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Sci. Total Environ. 2020, 741, 140441. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McCaffrey, S. Community Wildfire Preparedness: A Global State-of-the-Knowledge Summary of Social Science Research. Curr. For. Rep. 2015, 1, 81–90. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Jenkins, J.L.; Hsu, E.B.; Sauer, L.M.; Hsieh, Y.-H.; Kirsch, T.D. Prevalence of Unmet Health Care Needs and Description of Health Care–seeking Behavior Among Displaced People After the 2007 California Wildfires. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2009, 3, S24–S28. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Eisenman, D.; McCaffrey, S.; Donatello, I.; Marshal, G. An Ecosystems and Vulnerable Populations Perspective on Solastalgia and Psychological Distress After a Wildfire. EcoHealth 2015, 12, 602–610. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Ashida, S.; Robinson, E.L.; Gay, J.; Slagel, L.E.; Ramirez, M.R. Personal Disaster and Emergency Support Networks of Older Adults in a Rural Community: Changes After Participation in a Preparedness Program. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2017, 11, 110–119. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Durant, T.J. The Utility of Vulnerability and Social Capital Theories in Studying the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Elderly. J. Fam. Issues 2011, 32, 1285–1302. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Somes, J. The Loneliness of Aging. J. Emerg. Nurs. 2021, 47, 469–475. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Aldrich, N.; Benson, W.F. Disaster Preparedness and the Chronic Disease Needs of Vulnerable Older Adults. Prev. Chronic Dis. 2008, 5, A27. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Acierno, R.; Ruggiero, K.J.; Kilpatrick, D.G.; Resnick, H.S.; Galea, S. Risk and Protective Factors for Psychopathology Among Older versus Younger Adults After the 2004 Florida Hurricanes. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 2006, 14, 1051–1059. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gibson, A.; Kusmaul, N.; Leedahl, S.; Rizzo, V.M. Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment. In Gerontological Social Work and the Grand Challenges; Sanders, S., Kolomer, S.R., Spellman, C.W., Rizzo, V.M., Eds.; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2019; pp. 93–110. [Google Scholar]
- Gamble, J.L.; Hurley, B.J.; Schultz, P.A.; Jaglom, W.S.; Krishnan, N.; Harris, M. Climate Change and Older Americans: State of the Science. Environ. Health Perspect. 2013, 121, 15–22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Munn, Z.; Peters, M.D.J.; Stern, C.; Tufanaru, C.; McArthur, A.; Aromataris, E. Systematic Review or Scoping Review? Guidance for Authors When Choosing between a Systematic or Scoping Review Approach. BMC Med. Res. Methodol. 2018, 18, 143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Arksey, H.; O’Malley, L. Scoping Studies: Advancing the Methodology. Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol. 2005, 8, 19–32. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Levac, D.; Colquhoun, H.; O’Brien, K.K. Scoping Studies: Advancing the Methodology. Implement. Sci. 2010, 5, 69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Colquhoun, H.L.; Levac, D.; O’Brien, K.K.; Straus, S.; Tricco, A.C.; Perrier, L.; Kastner, M.; Moher, D. Scoping Reviews: Time for Clarity in Definition, Methods, and Reporting. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 2014, 67, 1291–1294. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tricco, A.C.; Lillie, E.; Zarin, W.; O’Brien, K.K.; Colquhoun, H.; Levac, D.; Moher, D.; Peters, M.D.J.; Horsley, T.; Weeks, L.; et al. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann. Int. Med. 2018, 169, 467–473. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- World Health Organization: Ageing and Health. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health (accessed on 1 February 2023).
- Covidence. Covidence Systematic Review Software; Veritas Health Information: Melbourne, Australia, 2022. [Google Scholar]
- Analitis, A.; Georgiadis, I.; Katsouyanni, K. Forest Fires Are Associated with Elevated Mortality in a Dense Urban Setting. Occup. Environ. Med. 2012, 69, 158–162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Asfaw, H.W.; McGee, T.; Christianson, A.C. The Role of Social Support and Place Attachment during Hazard Evacuation: The case of Sandy Lake First Nation, Canada. Environ. Hazards 2019, 18, 361–381. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Asfaw, H.W.; McGee, T.K.; Christianson, A.C. Indigenous Elders’ Experiences, Vulnerabilities and Coping during Hazard Evacuation: The Case of the 2011 Sandy Lake First Nation Wildfire Evacuation. Soc. Nat. Resour. 2020, 33, 1273–1291. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bambrick, H.J.; Capon, A.G.; Barnett, G.B.; Beaty, R.M.; Burton, A.J. Climate change and health in the urban environment: Adaptation opportunities in Australian cities. Asia Pac. J. Public Health 2011, 23, 67S–79S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Barber, C.E. Full Article: Forest Fire As a Shared Intergenerational Experience: Perceived Short-term Impacts on the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship. J. Intergener. Relatsh. 2014, 12, 128–140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barnett, J.; Dennis-Rouse, M.; Martinez, V. Wildfire Disaster Leads to Facilities Evacuation. Orthop. Nurs. 2009, 28, 17–20. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bell, S.A.; Horowitz, J.; Iwashyna, T.J. Health Outcomes After Disaster for Older Adults with Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review. Gerontologist 2020, 60, e535–e547. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Blake, S.C.; Howard, D.H.; Eiring, H.; Tarde, S. San Diego’s Area Coordinator System: A Disaster Preparedness Model for US Nursing Homes| Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness|Cambridge Core. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2012, 6, 424–427. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cascio, W.E. Wildland Fire Smoke and Human Health—ScienceDirect. Sci. Total. Environ. 2018, 624, 586–595. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cisneros, R.; Alcala, E.; Schweizer, D.; Burke, N. Smoke Complaints Caused by Wildland Fire in the Southern Sierra Nevada Region, California. Int. J. Wildland Fire 2018, 27, 677. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Coates, L.; Haynes, K.; O’brien, J.; McAneney, J.; de Oliveira, F.D. Exploring 167 Years of Vulnerability: An Examination of Extreme Heat Events in Australia 1844–2010. Environ. Sci. Policy 2014, 42, 33–44. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- DeFlorio-Barker, S.; Crooks, J.; Reyes, J.; Rappold, A.G. Cardiopulmonary Effects of Fine Particulate Matter Exposure among Older Adults, during Wildfire and Non-Wildfire Periods, in the United States 2008–2010. Environ. Health Perspect. 2019, 127, 37006. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Eriksen, C.; Hankins, D.L. The Retention, Revival, and Subjugation of Indigenous Fire Knowledge through Agency Fire Fighting in Eastern Australia and California. Soc. Nat. Resour. 2014, 27, 1288–1303. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Farugia, T.L.; Cuni-Lopez, C.; White, A.R. Potential Impacts of Extreme Heat and Bushfires on Dementia. J. Alzheimer’s Dis. 2021, 79, 969–978. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fergie, D.; Lucas, R.; Harrington, M. Take My Breath Away: Transformations in the Practices of Relatedness and Intimacy through Australia’s 2019–2020 Convergent Crises. Anthr. Action 2020, 27, 49–62. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fisk, W.J.; Chan, W.R. Health Benefits and Costs of Filtration Interventions That Reduce Indoor Exposure to PM2.5 during Wildfires. Indoor Air 2017, 27, 191–204. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Forsberg, N.T.; Longo, B.M.; Baxter, K.; Boutté, M. Wildfire Smoke Exposure: A Guide for the Nurse Practitioner. J. Nurse Pract. 2012, 8, 98–106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Garner, J.M.; Iwasko, W.C.; Jewel, T.D.; Charboneau, B.R.; Dodd, A.A.; Zontos, K.M. A Multihazard Assessment of Age-Related Weather Vulnerabilities. Weather Clim. Soc. 2020, 12, 367–386. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Haikerwal, A.; Akram, M.; Del Monaco, A.; Smith, K.; Sim, M.R.; Meyer, M.; Tonkin, A.M.; Abramson, M.J.; Dennekamp, M. Impact of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Exposure During Wildfires on Cardiovascular Health Outcomes. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 2015, 4, e001653. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Huttunen, K.; Siponen, T.; Salonen, I.; Yli-Tuomi, T.; Aurela, M.; Dufva, H.; Hillamo, R.; Linkola, E.; Pekkanen, J.; Pennanen, A.; et al. Low-Level Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Is Associated with Systemic Inflammation in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients—ScienceDirect. Environ. Res. 2012, 116, 44–51. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ignotti, E.; Valente, J.G.; Longo, K.M.; Freitas, S.R.; Hacon, S.D.S.; Netto, P.A. Impact on Human Health of Particulate Matter Emitted from Burnings in the Brazilian Amazon Region. Rev. Saude Publica 2010, 44, 121–130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Jia, S.; Kim, S.H.; Nghiem, S.V.; Doherty, P.; Kafatos, M.C. Patterns of Population Displacement during Mega-Fires in California Detected Using Facebook Disaster Maps. Environ. Res. Lett. 2020, 15, 074029. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Johnston, F.H.; Purdie, S.; Jalaludin, B.; Henderson, S.B.; Morgan, G.G. Air Pollution Events from Forest Fires and Emergency Department Attendances in Sydney, Australia 1996–2007: A case-crossover analysis. Environ. Health 2014, 13, 105. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Kim, Y.; Knowles, S.; Manley, J.; Radoias, V. Long-Run Health Consequences of Air Pollution: Evidence from Indonesia’s Forest Fires of 1997. Econ. Hum. Biol. 2017, 26, 186–198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Kitson, A. Rising from the Ashes: Affirming the Spirit of Courage, Community Resilience, Compassion and Caring. J. Clin. Nurs. 2020, 29, 2765–2766. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Kollanus, V.; Tiittanen, P.; Niemi, J.V.; Lanki, T. Effects of Long-Range Transported Air Pollution from Vegetation Fires on Daily Mortality and Hospital Admissions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. Environ. Res. 2016, 151, 351–358. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kreinin, A.; Lyansberg, A.; Yusupov, M.; Moran, D.S. Fire Disaster Readiness: Preparation for the Evacuation of Medical Facilities During Fires in Haifa, Israel. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2019, 13, 375–379. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kunii, O.; Kanagawa, S.; Yajima, I.; Hisamatsu, Y.; Yamamura, S.; Amagai, T.; Ismail, I.T.S. The 1997 Haze Disaster in Indonesia: Its Air Quality and Health Effects. Arch. Environ. Health Int. J. 2002, 57, 16–22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Le, G.E.; Breysse, P.N.; McDermott, A.; Eftim, S.E.; Geyh, A.; Berman, J.D.; Curriero, F.C. Canadian Forest Fires and the Effects of Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Hospitalizations among the Elderly. ISPRS Int. J. Geo. Inf. 2014, 3, 713–731. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Lewis, M.; Christianson, A.; Spinks, M. Return to Flame: Reasons for Burning in Lytton First Nation, British Columbia. J. For. 2018, 116, 143–150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Linares, C.; Carmona, R.; Tobias, A.; Mirón, I.J.; Diaz, J. Influence of Advections of Particulate Matter from Biomass Combustion on Specific-Cause Mortality in Madrid in the Period 2004–2009. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2015, 22, 7012–7019. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, J.C.; Pereira, G.; Uhl, S.A.; Bravo, M.A.; Bell, M.L. A systematic Review of the Physical Health Impacts from Non-Occupational Exposure to Wildfire Smoke. Environ. Res. 2015, 136, 120–132. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Liu, J.C.; Mickley, L.J.; Sulprizio, M.P.; Yue, X.; Peng, R.D.; Dominici, F.; Bell, M.L. Future Respiratory Hospital Admissions from Wildfire Smoke under Climate Change in the Western US. Environ. Res. Lett. 2016, 11, 124018. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, J.C.; Wilson, A.; Mickley, L.J.; Dominici, F.; Ebisu, K.; Wang, Y.; Sulprizio, M.P.; Peng, R.D.; Yue, X.; Son, J.-Y.; et al. Wildfire-specific Fine Particulate Matter and Risk of Hospital Admissions in Urban and Rural Counties. Epidemiology 2017, 28, 77–85. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Liu, J.C.; Wilson, A.; Mickley, L.J.; Ebisu, K.; Sulprizio, M.P.; Wang, Y.; Peng, R.D.; Yue, X.; Dominici, F.; Bell, M.L. Who Among the Elderly Is Most Vulnerable to Exposure to and Health Risks of Fine Particulate Matter From Wildfire Smoke? Am. J. Epidemiol. 2017, 186, 730–735. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Machado-Silva, F.; Libonati, R.; de Lima, T.F.M.; Peixoto, R.B.; França, J.R.D.A.; Magalhães, M.D.A.F.M.; Santos, F.L.M.; Rodrigues, J.A.; DaCamara, C.C. Drought and Fires Influence the Respiratory Diseases Hospitalizations in the Amazon. Ecol. Indic. 2020, 109, 105817. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Machin, A.B.; Nascimento, L.F.; Mantovani, K.; Machin, E.B. Effects of Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter in Elderly Hospitalizations Due to Respiratory Diseases in the South of the Brazilian Amazon. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 2019, 52, e8130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Madsen, R.S.; Haynes, H.J.G.; McCaffrey, S.M. Wildfire Risk Reduction in the United States: Leadership Staff Perceptions of Local Fire Department Roles and Responsibilities. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. 2018, 27, 451–458. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mason, L.; White, G.; Morishima, G.; Alvarado, E.; Andrew, L.; Clark, F.; Durglo, M.; Durglo, J.; Eneas, J.; Erickson, J.; et al. Listening and Learning from Traditional Knowledge and Western Science: A Dialogue on Contemporary Challenges of Forest Health and Wildfire. J. For. 2012, 110, 187–193. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mazdiyasni, O.; AghaKouchak, A. Natural Disasters Are Prejudiced Against Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Populations: The Lack of Publicly Available Health-Related Data Hinders Research at the Cusp of the Global Climate Crisis. Geohealth 2020, 4, e2019GH000219. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- McDermott-Levy, R.; Fick, D.M. Advancing Gerontological Nursing Science in Climate Change. Res. Gerontol. Nurs. 2020, 13, 6–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McKemey, M.; Ens, E.; Rangers, Y.M.; Costello, O.; Reid, N. Indigenous Knowledge and Seasonal Calendar Inform Adaptive Savanna Burning in Northern Australia. Sustainability 2020, 12, 995. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Miller, A.M.; Davidson-Hunt, I. Agency and Resilience: Teachings of Pikangikum First Nation Elders, Northwestern Ontario. Ecol. Soc. 2013, 18, e2019GH000219. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Miller, A.M.; Davidson-Hunt, I.J.; Peters, P. Talking about Fire: Pikangikum First Nation Elders Guiding Fire Management. Can. J. For. Res. 2010, 40, 2290–2301. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Miller, A.M.; Davidson-Hunt, I. Fire, Agency and Scale in the Creation of Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes. Hum. Ecol. 2010, 38, 401–414. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mills, D.; Jones, R.; Wobus, C.; Ekstrom, J.; Jantarasami, L.; Juliana, A.S.; Crimmins, A. Projecting Age-Stratified Risk of Exposure to Inland Flooding and Wildfire Smoke in the United States under Two Climate Scenarios. Environ. Health Perspect. 2018, 126, 47007. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Mirsaeidi, M.; Motahari, H.; Khamesi, M.T.; Sharifi, A.; Campos, M.; Schraufnagel, D.E. Climate Change and Respiratory Infections. Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc. 2016, 13, 1223–1230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Morgan, G.W.; Tolhurst, K.G.; Poynter, M.W.; Cooper, N.; McGuffog, T.; Ryan, R.; Wouters, M.A.; Stephens, N.; Black, P.; Sheehan, D.; et al. Prescribed burning in south-eastern Australia: History and future directions. Aust. For. 2020, 83, 4–28. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Nunes, K.V.R.; Ignotti, E.; de Souza Hacon, S. Circulatory Disease Mortality Rates in the Elderly and Exposure to PM2.5 Generated by Biomass Burning in the Brazilian Amazon in 2005. Cad. Saúde Pública 2013, 29, 589. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- O’Brien, L.; Watson, I. In Conversation with Uncle Lewis: Bushfires, Weather-Makers, Collective Management. Altern. Int. J. Indig. Peoples 2014, 10, 450–461. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- O’Dwyer, L.; Thompson, K. Attachment, Bushfire Preparedness, Planning, and Response among Animal Guardians: A South Australian Case Study. PLoS Curr. 2018, 10. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30191080/ (accessed on 20 June 2023).
- Oliveira, S.; Zêzere, J.L.; Queirós, M.; Pereira, J.M. Assessing the Social Context of Wildfire-Affected Areas. The Case of Mainland Portugal. Appl. Geogr. 2017, 88, 104–117. [Google Scholar]
- Orr, A.; Migliaccio, C.A.L.; Buford, M.; Ballou, S.; Migliaccio, C.T. Sustained Effects on Lung Function in Community Members Following Exposure to Hazardous PM2.5 Levels from Wildfire Smoke. Toxics 2020, 8, 53. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pekovic, V.; Seff, L.; Rothman, M. Planning for and Responding to Special Needs of Elders in Natural Disasters. Generations 2007, 31, 37–41. [Google Scholar]
- Pennisi, E. Living with heat. Science 2020, 370, 778–781. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Prohaska, T.R.; Peters, K.E. Impact of Natural Disasters on Health Outcomes and Cancer Among Older Adults. Gerontologist 2019, 59 (Suppl. 1), S50–S56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Ramakreshnan, L.; Aghamohammadi, N.; Fong, C.S.; Bulgiba, A.; Zaki, R.A.; Wong, L.P.; Sulaiman, N.M. Haze and Health Impacts in ASEAN Countries: A Systematic Review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2018, 25, 2096–2111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ray, L. Using Q-Methodology to Identify Local Perspectives on Wildfires in Two Koyukon Athabascan Communities in Rural Alaska. Sustain. Sci. Pract. Policy 2011, 7, 18–29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Reisen, F.; Brown, S.K.; Reisen, F.; Brown, S.K. Implications for Community Health from Exposure to Bushfire Air Toxics. Environ. Chem. 2006, 3, 235–243. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sahani, M.; Zainon, N.A.; Mahiyuddin, W.R.W.; Latif, M.T.; Hod, R.; Khan, M.F.; Tahir, N.M.; Chan, C.-C. A Case-Crossover Analysis of Forest Fire Haze Events and Mortality in Malaysia. Atmos. Environ. 2014, 96, 257–265. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scrymgeour, G.C.; Smith, L.; Maxwell, H.; Paton, D. Nurses Working in Healthcare Facilities during Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Enquiry. Int. Nurs. Rev. 2020, 67, 427–435. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Shahparvari, S.; Chhetri, P.; Abareshi, A.; Abbasi, B. Multi-Objective Decision Analytics for Short-Notice Bushfire Evacuation: An Australian Case Study. Australas. J. Inf. Syst. 2015, 19, 133–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Shankar, H.M.; Rice, M.B. Update on Climate Change: Its Impact on Respiratory Health at Work, Home, and at Play. Clin. Chest Med. 2020, 41, 753–761. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sherwen, A.; Paratz, E.; La Gerche, A.; Prior, D.; MacIsaac, A. Smoke but No Fire: Increased Myocardial Infarction with Normal Coronary Arteries in the Australian Bushfires? Int. Med. J. 2020, 50, 1439–1440. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Stowell, J.D.; Geng, G.; Saikawa, E.; Chang, H.H.; Fu, J.; Yang, C.-E.; Zhu, Q.; Liu, Y.; Strickland, M.J. Associations of Wildfire Smoke PM2.5 Exposure with Cardiorespiratory Events in Colorado 2011–2014. Environ. Int. 2019, 133, 105151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Thompson, K.; Trigg, J.; Smith, B. Animal Ownership Among Vulnerable Populations in Regional South Australia: Implications for Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2017, 23, 59–63. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tilney, P. Extensive Burns in an Elderly Man Found in a Brush Fire. Air Med. J. 2010, 29, 98–103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Uriarte, M.; Yackulic, C.B.; Cooper, T.; Flynn, D.; Cortes, M.; Crk, T.; Cullman, G.; McGinty, M.; Sircely, J. Expansion of Sugarcane Production in São Paulo, Brazil: Implications for Fire Occurrence and Respiratory Health. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 132, 48–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vaarzon-Morel, P.; Gabrys, K. Fire on the Horizon: Contemporary Aboriginal burning Issues in the Tanami Desert, Central Australia. GeoJournal 2008, 74, 465. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Weichenthal, S.; Kulka, R.; Lavigne, E.; van Rijswijk, D.; Brauer, M.; Villeneuve, P.J.; Stieb, D.; Joseph, L.; Burnett, R.T. Biomass Burning as a Source of Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Myocardial Infarction. Epidemiology 2017, 28, 329–337. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Westcott, R.A.N.; Ronan, K.; Bambrick, H.; Taylor, M. “Don’t Just Do Something…Stand There!” Emergency Responders’ Peri-Incident Perceptions of Animal Owners in Bushfire. Front. Vet. Sci. 2017, 4, 34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Wyte-Lake, T.; Claver, M.; Johnson-Koenke, R.; Dobalian, A. Home-Based Primary Care’s Role in Supporting the Older Old During Wildfires. J. Prim. Care Community Health 2019, 10, 2150132719846773. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Yibarbuk, D.; Whitehead, P.J.; Russell-Smith, J.; Jackson, D.; Godjuwa, C.; Fisher, A.; Cooke, P.; Choquenot, D.; Bowman, D.M.J.S. Fire Ecology and Aboriginal Land Management in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Australia: A Tradition of Ecosystem Management. J. Biogeogr. 2001, 28, 325–343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Youssouf, H.; Liousse, C.; Roblou, L.; Assamoi, E.-M.; Salonen, R.O.; Maesano, C.; Banerjee, S.; Annesi-Maesano, I. Non-Accidental Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 11772–11804. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Urbanski, C. Rematriate the Land: How the Indigenous Women of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Help Solve Climate Change. Available online: https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/2020/05/01/rematriate-the-land/ (accessed on 20 June 2023).
- Hung, W.-T.; Lu, C.-H.; Shrestha, B.; Lin, H.-C.; Lin, C.-A.; Grogan, D.; Hong, J.; Ahmadov, R.; James, E.; Joseph, E. The Impacts of Transported Wildfire Smoke Aerosols on Surface air Quality in New York State: A Case Study in Summer 2018. Atmos. Environ. 2020, 227, 117415. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Langford, A.O.; Senff, C.J.; Alvarez, R.J.; Brioude, J.; Cooper, O.R.; Holloway, J.S.; Lin, M.Y.; Marchbanks, R.D.; Pierce, R.B.; Sandberg, S.P.; et al. An Overview of the 2013 Las Vegas Ozone Study (LVOS): Impact of Stratospheric Intrusions and Long-Range Transport on Surface air Quality. Atmos. Environ. 2015, 109, 305–322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Aguilera, R.; Corringham, T.; Gershunov, A.; Benmarhnia, T. Wildfire Smoke Impacts Respiratory Health More than Fine Particles from Other Sources: Observational evidence from Southern California. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 1493. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Boyd, E.; Chaffin, B.C.; Dorkenoo, K.; Jackson, G.; Harrington, L.; N’Guetta, A.; Johansson, E.L.; Nordlander, L.; De Rosa, S.P.; Raju, E.; et al. Loss and damage from climate change: A new climate justice agenda. One Earth 2021, 4, 1365–1370. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Characteristic | n (%) |
---|---|
Paper Type | |
Quantitative | 33 (44) |
Qualitative | 20 (26.7) |
Mixed Methods | 3 (4) |
Systematic/Scoping Review | 7 (9.3) |
Conceptual Papers | 9 (12) |
Other (e.g., commentary, interview transcript) | 3 (4) |
Method | |
Secondary Data | 28 (37.3) |
Remote-Sensed Environmental Measures (Air Quality) | 22 (29.3) |
Interviews | 16 (21.3) |
Systematic Review | 7 (9.3) |
Survey | 7 (9.3) |
Focus Group | 6 (8) |
Case Study | 5 (6.7) |
Field Research | 4 (5.3) |
Biological Data | 4 (5.3) |
Other Methods | 6 (8) |
Not Applicable (e.g., conceptual papers or other paper type) | 12 (16) |
Environmental Categories | n (%) | Examples |
---|---|---|
Hazards | ||
Fire | 75 (100) | |
Air Quality | 41 (54.7) | |
Heat | 12 (16) | |
Haze | 5 (6.7) | |
Specific Wildfire(s) | ||
Specific Wildfire | 13 (17.3) | |
Wildfire Season/ Time Period | 19 (25.3) | |
Climate Change (CC) | ||
Mentions | 41 (54.7) | |
Adaptation | 41 (54.7) | |
Mitigation | 18 (24) | |
Article Focuses on CC | 7 (9.3) | |
Disaster Recovery Cycle | ||
Mentions | 42 (56) | |
Recovery | 9 (12) |
|
Response | 24 (32) | |
Mitigation | 25 (33.3) | |
Preparation | 22 (29.3) | |
Environmental Justice (EJ) | ||
Explicit mention of EJ | 2 (3) | |
Alludes to EJ | 40 (53) | |
No Mention of EJ | 33 (44) | |
Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples | ||
Traditional Fire Knowledge | 12 (16) | |
Focus on Indigenous or Aboriginal Lands | 14 (18.7) |
Categories Related to Older Adults | n (%) | Examples |
---|---|---|
Focus Demographic | ||
Older Adults Sole Focus | 22 (29.3) | |
Focus on Older Adults in Addition to Others | 31 (41.3) | |
Mentioned Older Adults, but not Focus | 22 (29.3) | |
Data Sources | ||
From Older Adults | 18 (24) | |
About Older Adults | 52 (69.3) | |
Both | 5 (6.7) | |
Living Environment | ||
Community | 20 (26.7) | |
Long-Term Care | 4 (5.3) | |
Not Specified | 51 (68) |
Thematic Topic | n (%) | Examples |
---|---|---|
Animals/Pets | 13 (17.3) | |
Caregivers | 9 (12) | |
COVID-19 | 2 (2.7) | |
Evacuation | 26 (34.7) | |
Health Issues | 45 (60) | |
Intergenerational | 11 (14.7) | |
Mental Health | 19 (25.3) | |
Morbidity/Mortality | 36 (48) |
|
Social Support or Social Capital | 28 (37.3) |
Categories | n (%) | Examples |
---|---|---|
Problem Description | 56 (74.7) | |
Responses or Interventions | 31 (41.3) | |
Solutions and Recommendations | 61 (81.3) | |
Future Research Directions | 61 (81.3) |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Melton, C.C.; De Fries, C.M.; Smith, R.M.; Mason, L.R. Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136252
Melton CC, De Fries CM, Smith RM, Mason LR. Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(13):6252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136252
Chicago/Turabian StyleMelton, Colleen Cummings, Carson M. De Fries, Rebecca M. Smith, and Lisa Reyes Mason. 2023. "Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 13: 6252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136252
APA StyleMelton, C. C., De Fries, C. M., Smith, R. M., & Mason, L. R. (2023). Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136252