Wildfire smoke is increasingly affecting air quality across the United States, undermining previous improvements achieved through reductions in industrial emissions and vehicle pollution. This form of pollution is now impacting areas that historically experienced few wildfires. Researchers indicate that climate change is contributing to more intense forest fires, which release harmful substances into the air. A new study published in the journal Nature suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is projected to result in tens of thousands of premature deaths in the coming years.
According to the research, small particulate matter from wildfire smoke could lead to more than 70,000 excess deaths annually by 2050 if current fossil fuel emissions continue. This figure represents a substantial increase from the approximately 40,000 excess deaths attributed to wildfire smoke exposure over the past decade. The study also indicates that the economic impact of these health effects could surpass previous estimates of other climate-related damages in the U.S.
The study uses data from 2001 to 2021 to assess the health risks associated with wildfire smoke and notes that the findings may be conservative, as they exclude severe smoke events that have occurred more recently. States such as New York, Pennsylvania, and traditional wildfire-prone states like California are expected to experience significant increases in smoke-related premature deaths.
Efforts to mitigate the health risks from wildfire smoke include the use of air filtration systems, but access to these technologies can vary based on economic factors. Additionally, broader changes in the management of forest fires are suggested, moving towards practices like controlled burns, which can help lower the intensity of wildfires when appropriately managed.
Overall, the growing threat of wildfire smoke highlights the interconnectedness of climate change and public health, emphasizing the need for proactive strategies to address these challenges.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/science/780453/fire-smoke-health-premature-deaths-research