Table 2 Summary of 19 studies included in the review

Duclos, 1990 [39]

To evaluate selected health impacts of the 1987 Northern California forest fires.

Quantitative

Ecological (retrospective time-series)

Mental health and psychological “problems” measured as panic and/or anxiety

McDermott, 2005 [40]

To investigate wildfire-related factors and their relation to PTSD and to compare child and adolescent reports of PTSD with parent reports of postdisaster psychopathology.

Quantitative

Cross-sectional (survey)

PTSD (measured using Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index); general psychopathology (measured using The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)

Moore, 2006

[41]

To study if increases in PM2.5 and PM10 during the 2003 Kelowna/Kamloops fires were associated with changes in physician visits for specific disease categories.

Quantitative

Ecological (time-series)

Mental disorders (based on ICD diagnostic codes)

Marshall, 2007 [42]

To estimate the prevalence of major depressive disorder and PTSD among individuals who had sought disaster services or shelter as a result of a wildfire three months previously and to evaluate whether a screener might aid in identification of persons at elevated risk of subsequent psychopathology.

Quantitative

Cross-sectional (survey)

Depressive symptoms (using the eight-item version of Patient Health Questionnaire and PTSD (using the Post-traumatic Symptom Checklist)

Caamano-Isorn, 2011 [43]

To analyze the respiratory and mental health effects of the 2006 Galician wildfires, using consumption of anxiolytics-hypnotics and drugs for obstructive airway diseases as indicators.

Quantitative

Ecological (geographical- and temporal-cluster study)

General psychiatric pathology (using anxiolytics-hypnotic use as indicator)

Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry, 2014 [44]

To provide a chronology of key events during the Hazelwood coal mine fire, relevant to the environmental and health management of the emergency and its impacts on the community.

Mixed methods

Rapid Health Risk Assessment

Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, lethargy,and panic attacks. Feelings of fear, anxiety, and confusion. Increased risk of family violence, drug and alcohol abuse.

Ho, 2014 [36]

To explore the immediate physical and psychological symptoms among the general population who experienced haze during the 2013 Southeast Asian Haze Crisis and examine factors associated with the severity of acute physical and psychological symptoms.

Quantitative

Cross-sectional (online survey)

Psychological stress (measured using the Impact of Event Scale - Revised IES-R). Reports of recurrent thinking and dreams about haze, irritability, insomnia, and poor concentration.

De Pretto, 2015 [45]

To assess the links between knowledge, attitudes, and practices in relation to transboundary haze episodes related to seasonal forest fires in Southeast Asia.

Quantitative

Cross-sectional (purposive survey)

Well-being generally (adapted from Diener’s standard well-being instrument). Reports of worry, concern about health impacts of haze, sadness.

Reid, 2016 [9]

To assess the evidence of health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke (respiratory, cardiovascular, mental, and perinatal health specifically) and to identify susceptible populations.

Literature review

Systematic literature review

Psychological impacts, mental health, PTSD

Vincent, 2018 [46]

To examine the existing literature on firefighters’ sleep quantity and quality during wildland firefighting operations.

Literature review

Literature review

Depression, PTSD, stress, sleep quality and quantity

Berger, 2018 [47]

To examine the perceptions of school staff of the impact of the Hazelwood mine fire event on student and staff well-being.

Qualitative

Semi-structured interviews

Anxiety, stress, and feelings of frustration, fear and feeling overwhelmed. Reports of increased violence in homes.

Dodd, 2018 [48]

To explore the lived experience of individuals and communities affected by the 2014 wildfire season in the Northwest Territories and to examine the impact of the wildfires and smoke on mental and emotional well-being, physical health, and livelihoods.

Qualitative

Semi-structured interviews

Elevated feelings of depression, fear, hopelessness, stress and uncertainty.

Christianson, 2019 [49]

To examine residents’ wildfire evacuation experiences in Whitefsh Lake First Nation #459, Canada in May 2001 and to explore factors that complicated the evacuation process and put further strain on the evacuees and members of Whitefish Lake First Nation.

Qualitative

Semi-structured interviews

Stress, panic, and feelings of concern, confusion, worry, fear, exhaustion, recurring negative thoughts when seeing and smelling smoke.

Tan, 2019 [50]

To investigate the effect of acute short-term haze exposure on cerebral hemodynamics in healthy individuals, in addition to the relationship between haze exposure and psychosomatic symptoms.

Quantitative

Ecological

Psychological stress, psychosomatic symptoms.

Mottershead, 2020 [51]

To explore how the Dene Tha’ First Nation evacuated their community due to wildfire smoke in the summer of 2012, identify factors that helped and hindered the evacuation process, and examine how the evacuation process affected evacuees.

Qualitative

Semi-structured interviews and case study

Depression and stress (lasting/long term stress for some participants). Feelings of frustration and confusion.

Heaney, 2021 [52]

To assess the current evidence regarding optimal public communication strategies used in smoke-related disaster scenarios and best practices to connect with and empower populations to avoid exposure and health consequences associated with bushfire smoke.

Literature review

Scoping review

General psychosocial and mental health effects.

Rodney, 2021 [6]

To examine the effects of prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke-related air pollution on physical health, mental health, and sleep patterns of residents of the Australian Capital Territory region during the 2019–20 bushfire season and how these vary by demographic and lifestyle factors.

Quantitative

Cross-sectional (online survey)

Mental health symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep.

Pelletier, 2022 [53]

To identify health research priorities for wildland firefighters and related personnel.

Mixed methods

Cross-sectional (survey) and semi-structured interviews

General mental health impacts, stress.

Humphreys, 2022 [21]

To describe how persistent smoke events impact mental health and well-being, how community members have coped with these impacts, and identify adaptation opportunities to mitigate well-being impacts in future wildfire events.

Qualitative

Focus groups and key informant interviews

Anxiety, worry, and depression. Feeling of malaise, unmotivated, helpless, and guilt.