Smoke related health risk

Geneva’s World Meteorological Organization warns today that wildfire smoke has become a major global health risk — and that current mortality models may under-count deaths from it by as much as 93%

In its annual air-quality bulletin, the WMO says fine particles from burning vegetation are "much more toxic" than those from cars or industry, and travel far beyond the fire zone.

Heatwaves like those seen in Europe this summer also drive up ground-level ozone, itself linked to tens of thousands of respiratory deaths.

The report puts fresh pressure on WHO air-quality guidelines just as extreme fire conditions look set to intensify.

 

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