A growing wildfire threat endangers global health

Escalating megafires worldwide are worsening air quality and posing serious health risks, with vulnerable populations most at risk.

Ruth Kamnitzer reports for Mongabay.

In short:

• Increasing wildfires, driven by climate change and poor forest management, are leading to more smoke-related health issues.
• Vulnerable groups, like the elderly and those with preexisting conditions, are particularly at risk from the short-term and long-term effects of smoke.
• Wildfire smoke contributes to the cumulative air pollution burden, even affecting remote areas and stalling progress on clean air improvements.

Key quote:

“For every death and heart attack, you’ve got 10 times more people needing to see a GP or needing to go to a pharmacy. You’ve got 100 times more people with symptoms missing work, kids [missing school], so the ramifications … are quite big.”

— Fay Johnston, professor at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

Why this matters:

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires lead to more severe air pollution, exacerbating health problems like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and affecting large populations, including vulnerable communities. Read more: Carlos Gould on wildfire smoke and our health.