A new study finds that wildfire smoke may be more dangerous than previously thought, adding to mounting evidence about the public health perils of wildfires.
Published Wednesday in Science Advances, the study said that wildfire smoke comes with a myriad of long-term health outcomes, causing roughly 24,100 deaths in the U.S. annually.
Inhaling the smoke can lead to respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and neurological issues, even for those located thousands of miles from the scene, said researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in collaboration with other universities.
The trouble stems from PM2.5, particulate matter found in the smoke as it travels through the air. Researchers found no evidence of a safe exposure threshold.
