EPA Smoke Sense Software

What is EPA Smoke Sense?

The Smoke Sense mobile app is a citizen science study that aims to determine the impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on health. The app allows users to learn about wildland fires and smoke health risks in their area, report their health symptoms, and earn badges for their participation. The data gathered through the app will help EPA researchers and communities develop health risk communication methods during smoke days.

The Smoke Sense mobile app is designed to pilot a citizen science study about the impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on health. Citizen scientists can use the app to learn about wildland fires and smoke health risks in their area. They can report their health symptoms, and the range of actions they are able or willing to take to improve their health condition or lower their exposure. Users will earn badges each week they participate. If successful, data gathered through Smoke Sense will help EPA researchers and communities determine how smoke impacts our health and productivity and gain important insights needed to develop health risk communication methods during smoke days. The findings from the study will be peer-reviewed for scientific publication and published on the EPA website. Public health officials and air quality managers can use the results to develop strategies to protect public health from wildland fire smoke. The pilot will be conducted during the 2017 wildland fire season until the end of October. At the end of the study, the Smoke Sense app will go offline temporarily for updates. Smoke Sense app user identities will be anonymous and non-identifiable. Download and learn more about the Smoke Sense App at – https://www.epa.gov/air-research/smoke-sense