Wildfire Smoke From Canada Is Choking New York: What Is the Health Impact?

FIT explains what health impacts wildfire smoke and toxic air can have on individuals.

(Photo: Namita Chauhan/FIT)

Video Producer/Editor: Garima Sadhwani

New York is choking. People are breathing in wildfire smoke. Why is that a health hazard?

Firstly, wildfire smoke contains elements like chemicals, metals, plastics, and PM 2.5 particles which are not the healthiest to inhale.

But it’s not just that. Wildfire smoke is even more harmful because it can rise in the air and travel many miles making a much larger population susceptible to its impacts rather than just those who’re living in the vicinity of the wildfires.

FIT explains what health impacts wildfire smoke and toxic air can have on individuals.

Health Hazards of Inhaling Wildlife Smoke

Wildfire smoke can cause:

• Eye irritation

• Headaches and sinus problems

• Breathing problems

• Skin issues

• Fungal infections

• Inflammation of organs

• Weaken the body’s immune system

But it can also lead to much much bigger problems like

• Lung cancer

• Brain tumour

• Heart attacks

• Stroke

• Cardiac Arrest

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Asthma

• Other respiratory illnesses

Apart from physical health, inhaling wildfire smoke can also cause cognitive problems, and likely lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, found a 2023 study published in PLOS Climate.

Who Is At Risk?

Everyone who inhales wildfire smoke is at risk of developing health complications. But factors like age and a history of respiratory diseases increase that risk.

In fact, another factor that puts you at an increased risk is pregnancy.

A 2023 California-based study, published in the British Medical Journal) found that wildfire smoke can actually cause cellular damage in the placenta in the first & second trimester and lead to “changes in the immune status.”

Not just that, health issues due to inhalation of PM 2.5 particles have led to an increased rate of hospital admission for other comorbidities and infections too, a 2019 British Medical Journal study had found.

Inhaling toxic fumes of wildlife smoke has also been linked to the possibility of premature death.

What Can You Do?

If you’re in the vicinity of a wildfire or at risk of inhaling wildfire smoke, it’s best to 

• Avoid stepping outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

• Wear N95 or any other protective masks when you step out.

Going Forward, What Does This Mean For Public Health? 

For now, it’s hard to say what lies next. There’s not enough research on how repeated and long-term exposure to wildfire smoke can affect our health.

What researchers need to now focus on is how this smoke can impact our water bodies, crops, food, and of course, us!