The Public Health Effects of the Maui and Southern California Wildfires from Smoke Inhalation and Air Pollutants: Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and Life- Threatening Pulmonary Embolism

Air pollution from the 2023 Lahaina, Maui and ongoing 2025 Southern California wildfires negatively impact the environment and population in nearby communities. Understanding the public heath effects of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 um (PM 2.5) as one of the most harmful air pollutants is not well understood. While there is evidence that wildfire smoke is harmful to the cardiovascular system, there is a paucity of information regarding development of life-threatening acute pulmonary embolism (PE) from venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis) of the lower extremity due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This paper will describe exposure to wildfire air pollutants such as particulate matter as an independent risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism leading to acute pulmonary embolism that is a medical emergency as it can be life-threatening