Wildfire smoke, increasing in frequency, has implications for morbidity

As wildfires occur more frequently, research shows that breathing wildfire-related particulate matter is as hazardous to health as smoking cigarettes. The potential health impact of wildfire smoke is driving a rise in chronic health crises, with implications for life and health insurance.

The Society of Actuaries researched the impacts of wildfire-related air pollution on mortality and morbidity in the wake of Canadian wildfires that brought dangerous air quality to more than 100 million people across the United States in July.

Wildfire smoke contains a complex mixture of chemical components. As these components are exposed to the atmosphere and condensation, they form particulate matter that suspends in the air. Particulate matter is categorized by size into PM10 (particulate matter of less than 10 micrometers) and PM2.5 (particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers).

Although both PM10 and PM2.5 can worsen conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and cardiovascular disease, PM2.5 is of greatest concern because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and potentially contributing to cognitive decline over time.

Wildfire smoke also remains airborne for extended periods, allowing it to travel long distances via atmospheric currents such as jet streams, impacting air quality far from the wildfire source.

The researchers found climate-related health effects were not experienced equally. Communities with limited health care access, higher social vulnerability or preexisting chronic conditions tended to experience greater health burdens during wildfire and heat events, underscoring the importance of targeted, data-driven public health interventions.

The results of the study have implications for insurers and health care systems.

Health insurers may consider integrating climate risks into actuarial models. Traditional risk assessments may underestimate the growing health care burden of climate change. Incorporating climate-adjusted predictive modeling could improve financial projections and premium pricing strategies.

Excess morbidity related to PM2.5 and extreme heat could place additional pressure on hospitals, emergency departments, and mental health services. Health care providers may consider approaches to meet demand surges during extreme climate events, such as using telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health units to expand access in affected areas. It is equally important to consider coverage and delivery strategies after the wildfire peak seasons to address the delayed health impacts and health care needs from the impacted populations. In this process, data-driven prediction models similar to those in this study may be leveraged to support planning and enable quick responses.

Toxic smoke can increase morbidity

Aadit Sheth, pricing actuary at PartnerRe, told InsuranceNewsNet that the toxicity released into the atmosphere from the particulates in wildfire smoke can increase morbidity.

“The increasing wildfires and the increasing PM2.5 in the air are sometimes associated with how we categorize smokers when we look at life insurance smokers versus non-smokers,” he said. “Having that much PM2.5 can be associated with being as bad to someone's mortality relative to that of being a smoker, so that's how a lot of it is coming more into play from a life and health insurance perspective.”

As more wildfires from Canada bring smoke into heavily populated areas of the northeastern and midwestern U.S., hospitalization rates for smoke-related ailments rise, Sheth said, and those rising hospitalization rates should concern health insurers.

Sheth said health insurers are ahead of life insurers when it comes to analyzing data from wildfire-related illnesses.

“A lot of that is because the nature of health insurance is more short term,” he said. “But a lot of actuaries and insurance companies will look at historical data to determine premiums and what the future will look like to some extent. But with climate change, it keeps getting worse every year, and so it's really hard to use historical data to project what may happen. Life insurers are a bit on the back burner in the sense that they haven't yet incorporated wildfire smoke into any of their assumptions.”

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Susan Rupe is editor in chief, magazine, for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected].