Wildfires Reverse 20 Years of Air Quality Progress in Western U.S.

A new study reveals that wildfires in the western U.S. have reversed 20 years of progress in air quality, resulting in an increase of 670 premature deaths per year. The increase in frequency and intensity of wildfires has led to a 55% rise in black carbon concentrations, a fine-particle air pollutant linked to respiratory and heart disease. The impact on air quality has been most significant in fire-prone areas and downwind regions, with the highest mortality rates observed in these areas. The study highlights that efforts to improve air quality through reductions in automobile emissions have been undermined by wildfires, erasing the gains made over the past two decades.