From toxic algae to wildfire smoke, doctors examine climate-related health risks

BOISE, Idaho — Wildfire smoke, extreme heat and drought are often discussed as environmental problems, but doctors gathering in Boise on Wednesday focused on another part of the conversation: what those conditions can mean for human health. The second annual Regional Climate and Health Symposium brought together physicians, scientists and community leaders to discuss the health effects of extreme heat, wildfire smoke and drought, along with ways health care providers and communities can respond. Wes Pidcock, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Saint Alphonsus, wildfire smoke is an issue he has experienced from two different perspectives. Before becoming a physician, Pidcock spent four years fighting wildfires for the Bureau of Land Management in Salmon. “I worked for the BLM in Salmon, Idaho, for four years and was definitely exposed to some pretty high poor air quality,” Pidcock said. But wildfire smoke was only one part of Wednesday’s discussion.

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