As wildfires rage across North America, new study says smoke is 14 times more lethal than earlier estimates
Researchers now say that short -term exposure to fine particles about smoke is linked to 14 times more deaths than past estimates.
According to the study, forest fire smoke health risks were underestimated by approximately 93 percent. The findings published by the Barcelona Global Institute of Health (ISGLOBAL) in Lancet Planet Health by researchers show that exposure to forest fire smoke is responsible for an average of 535 deaths per year.
Only 5,362 forest fire in California resulted in 31 deaths according to Calfire data this year.
Why is Wildfire smoke so deadly
The study examined forest fire pollutants, especially thin particle substance (PM2.5) and microscopic particles that are smaller enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and blood circulation.
- For every 1 UG/m³ increase in PM2.5, mortality due to all causes increased by 0.7 percent, respiratory mortality 1 percent and cardiovascular mortality by 0.9 percent.
- Researchers found that the PM2.5, produced by the forest fire, was more harmful than traffic pollutants and intensifies the risks of respiratory and heart diseases.
“These estimates were made using certain data on how forest fire affects health and provided a more precise calculation compared to general air pollution data,” he said.
How was the study carried out
The team relied on the data from the early adapt project covering 654 regions in 32 European countries and 541 million people between 2004-2022.
- They combined daily mortality records with the levels of fire and non -fever.
- He expanded his timeline to include the deaths that occurred within seven days of exposure, caught the delayed but deadly effects of Wildfire Smoke.
Previous estimates were dangerously low
The study found that short -term exposure to forest fire smoke particles (PM2.5) caused an average of 535 deaths, including 31 of 31 of respiratory diseases and 184 of 184 of cardiovascular causes.
Previous methods that treat forest fire proposed only 38 deaths in the same year as the same smoke as other thin particles, a large subset.
Researchers discovered that the actual transition fee was about 14 times higher by applying risk data specific to forest fire smoke, so previous estimates underestimated the danger by 93 percent.
A threat to climate for global health
Since the climate crisis fueled longer fever seasons and more dense flames, it is expected to significantly increase in forest fire smoke.
Anna Alari, an ISGLOBAL researcher and working writer, said, “The increasing frequency and density of forest fires necessitates improved forest fire mortality forecasts to better monitor the threat of climate change,” he said.
