Compound Climate Hazards: Understanding and Addressing the Health Risks of Co-Exposure to Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat in British Columbia

With climate change, heat waves and wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense across Canada. While both extreme heat and wildfire smoke pose a substantial health risk, most available research and public health guidance has focused on these climate hazards in isolation, without considering the potential health risks of simultaneous exposure to heat and smoke. In this presentation, we will share our work investigating the frequency and intensity of co-occurring wildfire smoke and extreme heat events across British Columbia (BC), highlighting changes in exposure over time and identifying highly exposed communities. We will also share findings from our epidemiological analyses of the synergistic effects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat on community mortality in BC, underscoring both the significance and complexity of the health risks posed by co-exposure. Finally, we will discuss current gaps in public health messaging around compound climate hazards and how we can translate research into actionable guidance. Presenters’ bio Dr. Stephanie Cleland is an Assistant Professor and the Legacy for Airway Health Chair in Promotion of Lung Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. She is also a research scientist at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and an affiliate investigator in Environmental Health Services at the BCCDC. Dr. Cleland’s research explores how climate change-related exposures, such as wildfire smoke and extreme heat, adversely affect human health and well-being. Dr. Eric Coker is a Senior Scientist with the BCCDC in Environmental Health Services. With over ten years of training and experience in air pollution exposure assessment and epidemiology, Dr. Coker's research portfolio at the BCCDC has focused on the epidemiology of wildfire smoke and improving assessment and public health communication of wildfire smoke exposure.

BC CDC Presenter

6/24/2025 7:00:00 PM