The Health Risks of Wildfire Smoke
The skies were painted with hazy gray smog across the Eastern United States this week, thanks to smoke from the ongoing wildfires in Eastern Canada. The air pollution has risen to dangerous levels in some cities, prompting schools to close and outdoor activities to be suspended.
Air pollution from wildfire is harmful to human health because the smoke contains fine particulates and toxins that can be inhaled and spread into the lungs and bloodstream. Children, older adults, outdoor workers, and people with heart or lung conditions are at an elevated risk for acute symptoms and health emergencies due to exposure. Globally, air pollution (from wildfire, but also industry, transport, and burning fuels) contributes to millions of premature deaths every year.
The health risks are concerning, especially because climate change threatens to cause more air pollution emergencies in the future. Changing long-term weather patterns have made the hot and dry conditions for wildfire more frequent, increasing the chance of ignition and the potential for destruction and pollution. Climate change has also been linked to increasing levels of allergens and ground-level ozone, which can worsen air quality and exacerbate health problems.
For the people affected by this week’s event, the connection between climate change, air quality, and health has never been more apparent. By taking action to prevent wildfires and other sources of air pollution, policymakers and public health officials can make progress on improving health for people, their communities, and their environment.
To explore more on the intersection of climate, wildfire, air quality, and health, check out the resources below.
News
- VOX explainer: Why Is Eastern Canada on Fire — and When Will the Smoke Clear?
- VOX explainer: Smoky Air Puts Everyone at Risk — But It’s Worse for Some.
- NYT visualization: Just How Bad Was the Pollution in New York?
- CNN perspective: Smog Is Choking New York. But for These Cities, It’s Just Another Day.
From the Repository
- Air Visual: United Nations Environmental Programme
- WHO Fact Sheet: Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality and Health
- NIEHS: Climate Change and Human Health
- Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes and Mismatches
- Actions on Air Quality: A Global Summary of Policies and Programmes to Reduce Air Pollution
- State of Global Air 2020