Wildfire smoke may harm health

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine in the US have warned that smoke from wildfires may have more serious health effects than air pollution from other sources.

The findings come from two major studies led by Min Zheng and senior author Yaqun Wei. The studies were published in Nature Communications and The Lancet Oncology.

Why is wildfire smoke a concern?

The researchers focused on PM2.5, tiny pollution particles that can travel deep into the lungs. Some of these particles can also enter the bloodstream and affect the body.

The study found that exposure to PM2.5 from wildfires was linked to a higher risk of hospitalisation for heart and breathing problems compared with the same amount of PM2.5 from other sources.

Possible link with lung Cancer survival

In a separate study researchers found that long term exposure to wildfire related PM2.5 was associated with lower survival among people with lung cancer.

However these findings show an association and do not by themselves prove that wildfire smoke directly caused the health outcomes.

The source of pollution matters

The researchers said the health impact of air pollution may depend not only on how much pollution people breathe but also on where that pollution comes from.

Wildfire smoke is no longer limited to areas close to major fires. It can travel long distances and affect millions of people across different parts of the US raising growing concerns about its impact on public health.