A new study out in the journal Science Advances finds that chronic exposure to wildfire smoke has contributed to tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States. The research shows that from 2006 to 2020, wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths per year across the lower 48 states due to exposure to tiny particles called PM2.5, which are linked to serious health issues. Deaths from neurological diseases show the biggest correlation with exposure to PM2.5. As climate change makes wildfires bigger and more frequent, the study helps make a case for mitigating their serious threats to human health.
