"Research reveals toxic chromium produced by California wildfires"

Intense wildfires in Northern California have been found to transform benign soil into a cancer-causing metal called hexavalent chromium, according to a study published in Nature Communications. As climate change intensifies wildfires, the risk of exposure to toxic smoke containing hexavalent chromium increases. Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen and exposure to large amounts is associated with lung cancer. The study suggests that wildfires burning in natural areas could be releasing smoke containing this toxic metal into the atmosphere. Researchers are calling for further investigation into the health risks associated with wildfire smoke and are exploring air sampling and risk prediction based on geology and vegetation.