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Study: 24,000 Annual Deaths Linked to Wildfire Smoke
5 Feb
Summary
- Wildfire smoke may cause up to 24,100 deaths annually in the US.
- Exposure to particle pollution from smoke poses a serious nationwide threat.
- Smoke travels far, affecting people far from wildfire ignition points.
Wildfire smoke is projected to cause a significant annual death toll across the United States, with a new study estimating up to 24,100 fatalities each year. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that long-term exposure to fine particle pollution from wildfires poses a growing and serious threat to public health nationwide.
The study, published in Science Advances, linked satellite data on wildfire smoke exposure in the U.S. between 2006 and 2020 with mortality records. The findings indicate that for every 0.1 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) annual increase in particle pollution from wildfire smoke, approximately 5,594 additional deaths occur. The research team concluded that there is no safe level of long-term exposure to this type of air pollution.
Further concerns are raised by the fact that wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles, meaning individuals do not need to reside near a wildfire to be affected. The study also noted that climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally. This trend, coupled with shifts in U.S. climate policy, is seen as jeopardizing mitigation efforts and progress in addressing climate change.
