Project Grant 2533363

This $300,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) supports research to quantify the health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure in Alaska. The key products and services to be delivered include:

1. Assessing the correlation between particulate matter from wildfire smoke and associated health outcomes in Alaska, focusing on the 2.5 micron size fraction that has the largest documented impact on the human respiratory system.

2. Collaborating with Alaskan fire managers to develop realistic wildfire and prescribed/cultural fire management practices that account for smoke, air quality, and smoke plume distribution.

3. Evaluating the applicability of the EPA's BenMAP tool, which was developed for urban air quality, to quantify the health and economic burdens of wildfire smoke in Alaska's rural and dispersed population. The research aims to identify potential limitations and adjustments needed for the tool's use in rural settings.

The University of Alaska Anchorage is the primary awardee, working with experts in atmospheric science, public health, and epidemiology, as well as fire managers and Alaska Native communities. The project runs from Aug 2025 to Jul 2027 and is intended to provide a decision support tool for wildfire smoke and climate adaptation planning that accounts for human health impacts, with potential for broader application across rural parts of the U.S.