Study Finds Children Born in 2020 to Face Twice as Many Wildfires as Those Born in 1960
Children born in 2020 are projected to experience double the number of wildfires over their lifetimes compared to those born in 1960, according to recent studies. In regions like California, wildfires have become a common occurrence during the summer and fall seasons, releasing harmful particulate matter (PM₂.₅) into the air that poses significant health risks.
Wildfire-produced PM₂.₅ can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing immediate respiratory issues. While short-term exposure is linked to acute health problems like asthma, the long-term effects of repeated exposure are still unclear. A major challenge is accurately measuring wildfire-related PM₂.₅ exposure, as the intensity of pollution can vary drastically from day to day.
Current methods of measuring annual average PM₂.₅, whi...