Wildfire Smoke Undoing Progress on Clean Air Globally

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Two new studies published on Wednesday found that smoke from wildfires is undoing decades of progress on clean air, both in the United States and around the world.

The studies found that wildfire smoke has caused a statistically significant increase in PM 2.5 levels in 35 out of 48 continental states in the US since 2016.

The effect was most notable on the West Coast, where air quality has worsened drastically in recent years.

But even in some New England states, smoke caused pollution levels to plateau after many years of decline.

The study also found that each year between 2010 and 2019, every person worldwide had an average of almost 10 days of wildfire smoke exposure.

The concentration of polluted air was significantly higher in poorer countries, the researchers found.

The researchers say that climate change is one of the driving forces behind worsening fires worldwide.

As the atmosphere warms, many forests and other natural ecosystems are becoming drier and more prone to catching on fire.

The studies highlight the growing threat that wildfire smoke poses to public health.

We saw quite a few transboundary instances this year.

Wildfire smoke can contain a variety of pollutants, including fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, a type of air pollution made up of very small particles that can invade the lungs and bloodstream.

Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause a range of health problems, including coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chest tightness.

It can also worsen existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

There are a number of things that people can do to protect themselves and their loved ones from wildfire smoke, such as:

staying indoors as much as possible, wearing a mask when outside, and using an air purifier in their homes.

However, the best way to reduce the risk of wildfire smoke exposure is to address climate change.

Let's work and advocate for this!