Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT07536178

Conditions

Asthma

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Woodsmoke (Lodgepole Pine) exposure

Filtered air exposure

Study Details

Brief summary:

Wildfire smoke (WFS) is the leading climate-related risk in Canada and the main source of harmful air pollution. While short-term breathing problems caused by smoke are well known, there is limited knowledge on how repeated exposure contributes to long-term lung disease. This study is a controlled human exposure to varying concentrations of WFS in a safe setting. By comparing the effects of different concentrations, this research will improve understanding of health impacts, identify who may be most vulnerable to exposures, and explore biological changes that could lead to chronic illness.

Conditions

Asthma

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung Cancer

Study ID

NCT07536178

Start date

May 26, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Aug 31, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy Adults between the ages of 19 to 80 (12 of each biological sex assigned at birth).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current smoker (within six months before screening; potential to confound exposure effects).
2. History or current diagnosis of any respiratory conditions (including, but not limited to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma/COPD overlap) or other medical conditions that the study physician determines may impact participant safety.
3. Any comorbidities or other concerns identified by the study physician which may impact study participation.
4. For participants of child-bearing potential: Current pregnancy, or plans to become pregnant during study enrolment.

Study Design

Enrollment

24 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Prevention

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Arm A) Three repeated exposures to a low air pollution concentration

Three consecutive days with a 2-hour woodsmoke exposure at 35 µg/m3 of PM2.5 each day.

experimental: Arm B) Three repeated exposures to a moderate air pollution concentration

Three consecutive days with a 2-hour woodsmoke exposure at 105 µg/m3 of PM2.5 each day.

experimental: Arm C) Single exposure to a higher air pollution concentration

Two consecutive days of 2-hour filtered air exposures, followed by 1 day with a 2-hour woodsmoke exposure at 315 µg/m3 of PM2.5.

Interventions

Woodsmoke (Lodgepole Pine) exposure

Woodsmoke will be freshly generated using a furnace tube burning dried, ground lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) to achieve the nominal PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 micrometres) concentrations specified for each study arm.

Filtered air exposure

Exposures to HEPA filtered air, as a control.

Primary outcome measure

  • Effects of PM2.5 exposures and concentration on exhaled nitric oxide. [ Time Frame: Comparison of the different arms over the span of 4 months. ]
  • Effects of PM2.5 exposures and concentration on Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) [ Time Frame: Comparison of the different arms over the span of 4 months. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

PJ (Parteek) Johal, BCS

604-875-5132p.johal@ubc.ca

Agnes Yuen, BSc

604-875-4111agnes.yuen@ubc.ca

Locations

Air Pollution Exposure Lab

Recruiting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z1M9

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

Oct 26, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Wildfire Smoke
  • Chronic Lung Disease
  • Air Pollution
  • Controlled Human Exposure Study
  • Environmental Health
  • PM2.5

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-27. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2026-10-26. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.