An expert on disasters and epidemiology is available to comment on the health impacts of exposure to smoke from wildfires raging north of Los Angeles, as well as the after effects of exposure to environmental contaminants during clean up.

Jennifer Horney, founder of the epidemiology program at the University of Delaware, can talk about the potential major adverse health effects from volitale organic compounds that could be in the air in general:

· Eye nose and throat irritation

· Headache, loss of coordination and nausea

· Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system

· Some can cause cancer after exposure

Dr. Horney can also talk about specific chemicals that may be present in the air.

She has been on the ground after multiple disasters and has trained rapid response teams around the world to respond to outbreaks of novel and reemerging diseases, such as Influenza A H1N1.