Wood smoke exposure affects lung aging, quality of life, and all-cause mortality in New Mexican smokers.

Background: The role of wood smoke (WS) exposure in the etiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer (LC), and mortality remains elusive in adults from countries with low ambient levels of combustion-emitted particulate matter. This study aims to delineate the impact of WS exposure on lung health and mortality in adults age 40 and older who ever smoked.

Methods: We assessed health impact of self-reported "ever WS exposure for over a year" in the Lovelace Smokers Cohort using both objective measures (i.