008: Understanding Air Quality Impacts of Wildfires with Chisato Fukuda Calvert Ph.D

How to Disaster

“An ethnographic look into how complex the air pollution problem is, is important because it's not a symptom, it's a structural problem.” -Chisato Fukuda Calvert, Ph.D.

Episode Description:

Air quality is drastically affected by wildfires, which can lead to health risks that extend beyond the immediate danger of the fire itself. The region where the fire occurs is usually at the highest risk of air quality deterioration. However, smoke plumes can develop and travel far distances, impacting areas well beyond the wildland-urban interface.

Wildfires are an urgent matter that has been burning for decades. From the natural history of wildfires to their role in the environment, we know there’s a lot to understand. That’s why we’re dedicating today’s entire podcast to understanding the relationship between wildfires and air quality.

In this episode, Jennifer sits with Dr. Chisato Fukuda Calvert, the Interim Director of Open AQ and member of After the Fire Board of Directors. They talk about the urgency of the air pollution problem, the culture, equity, and politics around air pollution, and how to build trust and connection to help the community better navigate this systemic issue. Dr. Chisato also shares her study on air pollution and how it affects our physiology.

Wildfire smoke and its health impacts are something that can occur without warning and without notice. These natural disasters, unfortunately, happen all too often, but we are not left without resources. Tune in as Dr. Chisato shares practical ways we can safeguard our health and that of our family.

Connect with After The Fire USA:

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Highlights:

01:33: Living with Air Pollution

08:01: Navigating a Systemic Issue

12:33: The Central Work in Disaster Recovery

18:01: A Basic Necessity for a Big Job

20:53: Air Quality and Equity

25:54: The Threshold of Air Pollution

34:28: Cost-Effective Air Purifiers

39:14: Finding the Silver Lining

44:04: An Opportunity to Do Better