Chronic Wildfire Smoke Exposure Linked to Thousands of Deaths in the U.S.

Sat Feb 14 2026 07:16:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A new study reveals that chronic exposure to wildfire smoke contributes to an estimated 24,100 deaths each year in the U.S., highlighting the urgent need for mitigation strategies.

Research published in Science Advances shows wildfire smoke exposure is linked to significant health threats in the U.S., underscoring the dangers of PM2.5 particles. The study indicates that from 2006 to 2020, this pollution averaged 24,100 deaths annually, mainly affecting vulnerable populations. Experts advocate for more regulations to address the health risks associated with increasing wildfires driven by climate change.

Chronic exposure to pollution from wildfires has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States, according to a new study.

The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, long-term exposure to tiny particulates from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states.

“Our message is: Wildfire smoke is very dangerous. It is an increasing threat to human health,” said Yaguang Wei, a study author and assistant professor in the department of environmental medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Other scientists who have studied the death toll from wildfire smoke were not surprised by the findings.

“The estimates they’re coming up with are reasonable,” said Michael Jerrett, professor of environmental health science at the University of California, Los Angeles who was not involved in the study. “We need more of them. It’s only if we’re doing multiple studies with many different designs that we gain scientific confidence of our outcomes.”

The researchers focused on deaths linked to chronic exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5 — the main concern from wildfire smoke.

These particles can lodge deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to serious health issues, including respiratory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and even premature death.

Min Zhang, a postdoctoral student at the Icahn School and a study author, emphasized that the rise of PM2.5 from wildfires is fueled by climate change, increasing the importance of understanding its health impact. The study further indicated vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas, are more susceptible to the dangers of wildfire smoke.

“This highlights the need for more comprehensive regulations to tackle PM2.5 emissions from wildfires, which the EPA currently does not regulate as it is often categorized under natural disasters,” stated Kai Chen, an associate professor of environmental sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. The findings call for urgent action to mitigate health risks associated with increase in wildfires driven by climate change.