“Smoke exposure, researchers have found, raises the risk of dementia, poor mental health, fertility problems, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The more researchers learn about wildfire smoke, the more worrisome the picture gets. Smoke contains microscopic particles known as PM 2.5 because the PM (particulate matter) measures 2.5 microns or less—small enough to easily wiggle its way into our lungs and then into our bloodstreams. Researchers have already connected the particulate matter in wildfire smoke to a higher risk of strokes, heart disease, respiratory disease, lung cancer, and other serious conditions.
And the harmful effects don’t stop there. 2024 was a banner year for research on wildfire smoke and its impact on health, from brain functioning to fertility. While there’s still a lot more to learn, wildfire smoke is thought to be especially insidious compared to other sources of air pollution; its smaller particle size, intermittent spikes, and higher concentration of inflammatory compounds make it more dangerous.”
Wildfire Smoke Is Even More Dangerous Than Anyone Knew
https://www.wired.com/story/what-we-learned-about-wildfire-smoke-in-2024/
Wildfire smoke impacts respiratory health more than fine particles from other sources: observational evidence from Southern California
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21708-0
Wildfire Smoke Exposure and Incident Dementia
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2827124?guestAccessKey=fa5fca5a-bcdf-4801-a2dc-81b6e87b95dd
Why is particulate matter dangerous?
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/how-bad-is-wildfire-smoke-for-your-health#:~:text=The%20particles%20can%20also%20pass,still%20affect%20you%2C%20she%20adds
What are the Harmful Effects of PM?
https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics#:~:text=Particulate%20matter%20contains%20microscopic%20solids,the%20greatest%20risk%20to%20health.