Air pollution kills more people each year than car crashes, war, or drugs do. This invisible killer comes from sources like cars, trucks, factory smokestacks, and now, wildfires. Experts warn that the smoke from wildfires is a new and deadly pollution source, causing as many as 675,000 premature deaths worldwide annually. Wildfire smoke contains hazardous air pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and lead, leading to a range of respiratory and heart diseases.
Research shows that the world’s progress in cleaning up pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks is being eroded by wildfire smoke, exacerbated by climate change.
Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a pediatrician specializing in asthma care, describes the situation as heartbreaking and warns that it will only get worse, putting both homes and health in danger.
Recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area have highlighted the health concerns associated with smoke pollution. The air quality remains dangerously high in many parts of the city, impacting vulnerable individuals like the elderly and children.
Wildfire smoke is offsetting the public health gains made by reducing air pollution from cars and factories, leading to potentially large underestimates in death counts.
The rapid spread of wildfires into neighborhoods is making the smoke more dangerous, creating health hazards that can linger for months, even in spared homes.