How Climate Change is Intensifying Wildfire Smoke: The Rising Danger and Costs of Fine Particulate Matter

Scientists have found that climate change has led to an alarming number of deaths linked to wildfire air pollution. Between 2006 and 2020, around 15,000 extra deaths in the continental U.S. are tied to this issue, according to a study led by researchers at Oregon State University.

A particularly intense year for wildfires was 2020, marked by the historic Labor Day fires in the Pacific Northwest. This year alone accounted for about 35% of these climate-related deaths.

The research, published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment, is groundbreaking. It’s the first of its kind to quantify how human-induced climate change has worsened air quality due to increased fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfires. PM2.5 consists of tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

Overall, the study estimates that there were about 164,000 deaths from wildfire smoke over the 15 years studied. Of those, 15,000 were directly due to climate change—meaning if climate change hadn’t escalated, the total would have been around 149,000. This translates to an average annual death rate of 5.14 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the death rate from tropical cyclones like hurricanes.

Moreover, the economic impact of these deaths is staggering, with a burden of approximately $160 billion. This figure includes healthcare costs, productivity losses, and the value placed on reduced mortality risk.

The greatest economic impacts were felt in states like California, Oregon, and Washington, where wildfires have become increasingly severe. “Without action on climate change, the trend of increased wildfires and their health impacts will continue,” cautions Bev Law, a professor at OSU and the study’s lead author. Looking ahead, projections suggest a 50% rise in smoke-related mortality by mid-century, costing the nation up to $244 billion annually.

The study incorporated various datasets to understand the link between climate change and wildfire PM2.5 deaths. Researchers merged climate projections with data on wildfires, smoke emissions, and their health impacts. Alarmingly, wildfires now contribute to nearly half of all PM2.5 pollution in the U.S., undermining previous air quality improvements.

Exposure to PM2.5 is known to worsen cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Ongoing climate trends, such as rising temperatures and earlier snowmelt, have already intensified the severity and spread of wildfires.

In conclusion, we face a dual challenge: addressing climate change and protecting public health from its fallout. The need for proactive measures has never been clearer, as the impacts of climate change on human health continue to escalate.

For more insights, you can refer to the study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment here.

Source link