Study: Wildfire Smoke Kills 24,000 Americans Annually

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that wildfire smoke in the U.S. is linked to 24,100 deaths annually between 2006 and 2020. The researchers emphasize the need for an urgent shift in U.S. climate policy.

Min Zhang, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, stressed that this is a "very worrying public health problem." The study links smoke exposure to increased mortality and neurological disorders.

Researchers used mortality data from 3,068 counties and correlated it with satellite imagery, considering other factors. They found that neurological conditions, such as dementia and Parkinson's disease, are more frequent consequences of smoke exposure.

Yaguang Wei, assistant professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, noted that the brain appears to be the most vulnerable organ. The effects are more pronounced in rural areas and among younger people.

The study suggests developing early warning systems and using portable air filters in homes and public spaces. It also highlights the need to promote clean energy and increase funding for climate change research.