Health Impacts of Particles from Forest Fires
The Government of Quebec's 2006–2012 Climate Change Action Plan, Quebec and Climate Change: A Challenge for the Future, brings together several Quebec government departments and agencies. The Green Fund, financed by a levy on fossil fuels, is mainly being used to fund 26 measures focused on two key objectives: greenhouse gas emission reductions and adaptation to climate change.
The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) is responsible for the health component of Action 21, which targets the implementation of mechanisms to prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change on health. It has committed to address six areas for action targeting Quebec's adaptation to climate change, with each area including several research or intervention projects.
This study's objective is to provide an overview of existing epidemiological knowledge on particles from forest fires and interventions that have been evaluated to reduce the related health impacts. The purpose of this document is to help all public health stakeholders involved in preventing air pollution–related health impacts understand the differences between particles from forest fires and those from urban sources in terms of potential impacts on exposed populations and the required response.