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How Harmful is Wildfire Smoke? Understanding the Health Impacts
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

How Harmful is Wildfire Smoke? Understanding the Health Impacts

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources Context piece
  • Smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of kilometers and contains toxic substances, including chemicals and burnt materials.
  • Exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, asthma exacerbations, and even certain cancers.
  • There is no safe level of exposure to wildfire smoke particles, with vulnerable groups like children and the elderly being most at risk.

Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, carrying toxic gases and particulate matter that can travel vast distances and linger in the atmosphere for weeks. Unlike typical air pollution, smoke from forest fires is more potent, containing not only burnt vegetation but also traces of chemicals, metals, and synthetic materials from burning structures and vehicles.

Laboratory studies indicate that wildfire smoke causes more intense inflammation and tissue damage compared to regular air pollution. Research has linked exposure to this smoke with a heightened risk of myocardial infarctions, strokes, cardiac arrest, and increased emergency room visits for asthma. It can also weaken immune defenses and has been associated with lower survival rates after surgery.

The bad news is that there is no safe level of inhaling particles from wildfire smoke. The greater the exposure, the greater the risks. However, even at lower levels, these particles can cause health problems.

— Doug BruggeDoug Brugge, President of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, explained the dangers of wildfire smoke exposure.

Studies have shown a correlation between wildfire smoke exposure and increased cardiac and pulmonary conditions, even from fires thousands of kilometers away. Long-term effects can include eye and skin problems, and in some cases, increased risks of developing lung, colon, breast, bladder, and blood cancers. The impact of past fires has shown prolonged increases in cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses lasting for years.

Experts emphasize that there is no safe threshold for inhaling wildfire smoke particles. "The bad news is that there is no safe level of inhaling particles from wildfire smoke," stated Doug Brugge, President of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. "The greater the exposure, the greater the risks. However, even at lower levels, these particles can cause health problems." Children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to these effects.

Wildfire smoke causes more intense inflammation and greater tissue damage compared to regular air pollution.

— Kent PinkertonKent Pinkerton, co-director of the Center for Health and the Environment at the University of California, Davis, described the comparative toxicity of wildfire smoke.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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