Health News How Wildfires Can Affect Human Health

Do wildfires pose serious risks to human health?

Fires pose serious health risks even when they are not deadly. People in fire zones can suffer burns, breathing problems due to smoke inhalation, injuries, and other trauma from evacuations. Wildfire ... Read More

How wildfire smoke impacts health

During wildfire season, every fire comes with the direct risk of what it burns. But there is a secondary risk that comes with all wildfires: The impact of smoke haze on human health. Smoky air is a ... Read More

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Worsened Pediatric Asthma in U.S. Northeast: UVM Study

New research from the University of Vermont reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and upstate New York. Read More

Smoke inhalation from wildfires linked to premature births

Wildfire smoke may do more than harm the lungs. New research shows it could also raise the risk of premature birth. A large study from the University of Washington found that pregnant people exposed ... Read More

Canadian wildfire smoke worsened pediatric asthma in US Northeast, study shows

New research from the University of Vermont reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and upstate New York. Read More

Three ways climate change affects mental health—and why the story is more hopeful than it might seem

As headlines about heat waves, floods and wildfires become more frequent, many people report a growing sense of worry about what climate change means for their future. Some recent media reports have ... Read More

Wildfire smoke found to reduce sperm quality in new study

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wildfire season may be over, but new research indicates a hidden toll still lingers among many. Researchers at the University of Washington found that wildfire smoke exposure ... Read More

New UCLA data shows wildfires hurt our health and our wallets

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Chemical traces of 2023 Canadian wildfires detected in Maryland months after smoke subsided

In 2023, Canada's worst wildfire season on record produced so much smoke that it spilled across national borders into the United States. At times, a thick haze enveloped much of the U.S. East Coast ... Read More

From Parkinson's To Heart Disease, Can Climate Change Trigger Noncommunicable Diseases?

Changes in the environment, such as rising temperatures, sea level rise, drought, flooding, and more, may disrupt the cycle of ecosystems, thus affecting human health, triggering Noncommunicable ... Read More

Early data on over-the-counter birth control

Theresa Gaffney is the lead Morning Rounds writer and reports on health care, new research, and public policy, with a particular interest in mental health, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQ+ patient ... Read More