Wildfire Smoke: A Growing Threat to Global Health

You know what kills more people than car crashes or wars? Air pollution from cars, trucks, and factories. But there's a new worry, and it's coming from the sky. Wildfires are becoming more common and intense due to climate change, and the smoke they create is packed with dangerous pollutants like tiny particles, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and lead. This smoke is already leading to about 675, 000 early deaths each year worldwide, along with various lung, heart, and other diseases. Scientists are concerned because these wildfires are reversing some of the progress made in cleaning up pollution from vehicles and factories. Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a pediatrician specializing in asthma in Southern California, shared his thoughts. "It's truly disheartening, " he said. "Wildfires not only threaten our homes but also our health, and the situation is only getting worse. "