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Wildfire Smoke Kills Tens of Thousands of People a Year. Here's How It Attacks the Body
Researchers say wildfire smoke contains chemicals and metals that can raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes and asthma visits.
- Smoke from wildfires burning across the Northern Hemisphere as Earth warms attacks nearly every system in the human body, killing tens of thousands yearly, with air quality alerts in effect through Friday in Minnesota.
- Rising global temperatures from climate change are driving more frequent and intense wildfires; so far this year, more than 5,740 square miles of the United States burned, 31% more than the 10-year average.
- Scientists have counted at least 1,000 toxins in wildfire smoke, causing 24,100 annual deaths in the Lower 48 states between 2006 and 2020; a 2023 Maryland study linked heart and lung illness spikes to smoke originating 2,100 miles away.
- Laboratory studies show wildfire smoke triggers more inflammation than typical pollution, linked to heart attacks and strokes; after Australia's 2014 Hazelwood Coal Mine fire, heart disease rates remained elevated 2.5 years later.
- Stanford projects wildfire smoke deaths will increase with climate change, reaching $244 billion annually by midcentury in economic costs; experts recommend N95 masks outdoors and indoor air purifiers trapping particles smaller than 2.5 microns.
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Wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here’s how it attacks the body - Boston News, Weather, Sports
Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of the Northern Hemisphere as Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the human body, killing...
·Boston, United States
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The Toronto Star+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here’s how it attacks the body
Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of the Northern Hemisphere as Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the human body, killing tens of thousands of people
·Toronto, Canada
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Chicago TribuneReposted by 
WTKR
WTKRWildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here’s how it attacks the body.
Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of the Northern Hemisphere as Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the human body, killing tens of thousands of people a year, numerous medical studies show.
·Chicago, United States
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Associated Press News+31 Reposted by 31 other sources
Wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here's how it attacks the body
Wildfire smoke, which is increasing in the Northern Hemisphere as the climate warms, attacks nearly every system in the body.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources50
Leaning Left18Leaning Right2Center29Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Center
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
59% Center
L 37%
C 59%
Factuality
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