Spiraling healthcare costs of wildfire smoke in California

The annual cost of smoke-related hospitalizations in the state may have quadrupled between 2012 and 2018, according to new research. The costs of this year’s wildfires are likely to be even higher.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , since the start of 2020, there have been more than 8,500 wildfires across the state, incinerating more than 4.1 million acres of land.

At the time of writing, 6 of the 20 largest wildfires in the state’s history have occurred in 2020, including the largest on record, known as the August Complex, which has been burning since the middle of August. Wildfires release large amounts of particulate matter (PM) and toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

Smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in size, known as PM2.5, are carried long distances by the wind. Their small size means that they are breathed deep into the lungs, where they have a wide range of effects on human health . In addition to the severe harms to health and well-being, there are also financial costs. Daniel Cullen, who recently gained his Ph.D. […]

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