Wildfire pollution kills thousands of Americans each year, according to a study
Exposure to pollution from wildfires is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths around the world each year, according to aWednesday, which the researchers say should highlight the need for rapid action to mitigate climate change and manage vegetation. Fine particulate matter, a form of wildfire pollution, is responsible for some 335,000 deaths every year, according to a peer-reviewed analysis of tens of millions of deaths in 749 cities around the world between 2000 and 2016.
Of the many pollutants emitted by wildfires, the researchers said fine particulate matter is the most concerning as it is able to enter the bloodstream through the lungs and its chemical makeup usually makes it more toxic than that from other fires.