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

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 may be fueling mental health struggles, study finds

A new study found that exposure to wildfire smoke was linked to increased use of mental health medications. The research focused on Medicare recipients and tracked prescriptions for conditions like ... Read More

New studies tie unrecognized deaths and health problems to Maui and LA wildfires

The toll of wildfires is usually counted in acres burnt, property destroyed and lives lost to smoke and flames. But three studies published Wednesday suggest the cost to human health from the Maui and ... Read More

How does wildfire smoke affect human health?

It's been a hazy few weeks for parts of western and central Canada, as smoke from wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba has carried across North America. While the immediate danger of the ... Read More

Canadian wildfire smoke is more than a health hazard. It’s a call to action. | Opinion

If you have recently woken up to skies that look like dusk and smell like smoke, you are not alone or witnessing any new phenomenon. In the summer of 2023, Wisconsin residents also lived for weeks ... 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

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