Effects of exposure to forest fire smoke on respiratory health in Rural communities of San José de Chiquitos, Bolivia

Abstract

Forest fires in Bolivia have increased in frequency and intensity, posing environmental and human health threats. This study evaluated the impact of air pollution from forest fires on the health of San José de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz, Bolivia's population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two affected communities (Los Ciros and Pororó), collecting epidemiological and environmental data in September 2024. The results show that the symptoms most reported by the population exposed to smoke were respiratory (difficulty breathing in 71.4% of cases), followed by irritation in mucous membranes (77.1%), throat (80.0%), and eyes (85.7%). Although no significant differences were observed in all conditions, Los Ciros had a higher prevalence of symptoms, suggesting that poorer baseline health status could aggravate the effects of smoke. The most frequent mitigation measures were the use of masks (63.6%), staying indoors (54.5%), and the use of wet cloths (21.2%), without finding a significant association between these strategies and the reduction of symptoms. This study highlights the need to improve air pollution protection strategies in communities affected by wildfires and develop prevention policies to mitigate their effects on public health.