Newswise — While swaths of California burn, rescue efforts are rightly focused on putting out the flames. But when the flames are finally brought under control, Californians will face another serious problem: damage to lungs from intense exposure to smoke can cause serious long-term health problems.
Below are members of the American Thoracic Society who are experts in the short- and long-term health effects of smoke inhalation and environmental exposures. They can also discuss concrete ways residents affected can minimize the health hazard they face.
Peter D. Wagner, M.D.Past-President of the American Thoracic SocietyProfessor of Medicine & BioengineeringUniversity of California at San Diego Medical CenterDiv of Physiology MTF Rm 2089500 Gilman Dr Dept 0623ALa Jolla, CA 92093-5004
Dr. Peter Wagner was recently forced to evacuate his own San Diego home because of the fires.** He serves as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health and has written more than 350 articles, chapters, reviews and editorials on respiratory and critical care medicine. Dr. Wagner's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for the past three decades.
John R. Balmes, M.D.Professor of MedicineUniversity of California at San FranciscoBox 0843San Francisco, CA 94143-0843510-220-0502
Dr. John R. Balmes has studied the effects of wildland fire smoke in firefighters and is currently studying the effects of woodsmoke in women and children who live in homes where wood is used for cooking and heating in Guatemala.
The American Thoracic Society has more than 18,000 members who prevent and fight respiratory disease around the globe, through research, education, patient care and advocacy.
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