Climate Change to Intensify Wildfire Smoke Health Crisis
Wildfires are projected to increase as global temperatures rise, leading to more smoke-related health problems. Research shows that wildfire smoke contributes to tens of thousands of excess deaths each year in the U.S., with numbers expected to climb. Exposure can trigger heart attacks, asthma attacks, and premature births.
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The 2023 Canadian fire season, which sent smoke across international borders, was linked in a 2025 analysis to shortened lifespans for roughly 87,000 people globally. A separate study covering U.S. data from 2011 to 2020 attributed about 41,000 excess annual deaths to wildfire smoke, a figure projected to climb toward 71,000 by mid-century under moderate warming scenarios.
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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “'Wildfire smoke is the fastest-growing environmental threat in the US': How a warming world will poison the air we breathe.” Browse more stories.