Source: NPR
Researchers are collecting data on last year’s wildfires in the U.S. to understand the long-term health impact of exposure to air pollution.
In certain parts of the country, wildfires so intensely burned in 2017 that people living in homes in the affected areas started experiencing respiratory complications. NPR reports that in Montana counties the number of people going to the emergency room for respiratory problems nearly doubled during the wildfire season.
Additionally, Montana counties experience exposure to harmful particulate matter that was beyond levels that are considered still safe for the public. Researchers will be tracking a number of those who were affected by the wildfire smoke to understand the long-term effects of exposure to air pollution from wildfires.
Read Full Story: NPR