Wildfire smoke isn’t just an occasional nuisance—it’s America’s next big health crisis. The number of people breathing dangerously polluted air due to wildfires increased 27-fold between 2012 and 2022.
Smoke from wildfires, which is 10 times more toxic than general air pollution, does more than irritate lungs—it sets off a cascade of long-term health problems, including lung deterioration, fertility problems, and dementia.
Science is lagging far behind policy, so it’s time to face a reality we can’t ignore: climate change isn’t just knocking at our door—it’s filling our lungs.
