Chronic Wildfire Smoke Exposure Causes 24,000 Deaths Per Year In US

Typically, we don't have to worry too much about wildfires here in Minnesota. While we do get them, they typically aren't as ferocious or devastating as those we see out west in drier climates. Last year, the wildfires in Northern Minnesota were worse and larger than normal. Smoke filled the air over much of the state, but it wasn't from our fires. We experienced another very hazy summer due to the wildfire smoke from massive fires burning in Canada.

Experts Blame Climate Change For Increased Wildfires

Experts blame climate change for the increase in wildfires. It's hard to argue with. The Canadian Boreal Forest is remote, vast, and it's getting drier every year. When a fire ignites in the remote Yukon Territory (like so many did last year), it's almost futile to even try to extinguish it. That's what Canada says anyway, as they let the remote fires burn.

Last summer, we dealt with terrible smoke that sometimes kept us inside our homes. I remember being out on the water in my boat, and I couldn't even see the shore because of how bad the smoke was.

Related: Wildfire Smoke The New Normal For Minnesota Summers

WDIO reports that a new study from the journal Science Advances says that long-term wildfire smoke exposure led to an average of 24,100 deaths per year in the lower 48 states.

Get our free mobile app

The risk comes from exposure to the fine particulate matter in the smoke. They can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, making existing health problems worse. They can cause cardiovascular issues, respiratory illnesses, and premature death.

Most Of Our Smoke in Minnesota & Wisconsin Comes From Canada

The study doesn't single out any geographic region for a cause for wildfire smoke, but here in Minnesota, we've been dealing with the smoke from Canadian wildfires regularly over the last few years. What's concerning is that this study shows that wildfire smoke particles are more harmful than other pollutants, like vehicle emissions. Read the whole study from the AP.