Experts: Wildfire smoke causes immediate and long-term respiratory and systemic risks; lithium-ion battery fires may add metals exposure

The California State Assembly Health Committee heard testimony that wildfire smoke can cause immediate respiratory crises and long-term systemic health effects, and that fires involving electric vehicles and battery storage may add toxic metals to the smoke.

Dr. John Belperio, chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, Immunology and Sleep at the University of California, Los Angeles, told the committee that particulate matter from wildfires—particularly PM2.5—penetrates deep into the lung, causes compartmental lung inflammation and can trigger exacerbations of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease and rejection in lung-transplant patients. "When that ... PM2.5 gets into the lung, it's very hard for the lung to remove it," Belperio said, adding that systemic inflammation from particulate inhalation can affect the brain, carotid arteries and heart, and may…