New research shows air quality gains in the U.S. have been cut by wildfire smoke, leading scientists to sound the alarm for change if the world wants to breathe clean air in the future.
鈥淭he gestalt is that wildfires in the U.S. are increasing in terms of frequency, intensity, duration, acres burned, and that's negatively impacting air quality in the United States,鈥� said Ann Marie Carlton, a professor of chemistry at the University of California Irvine.
Carlton explained that when wildfires burn, they release a tiny particulate matter called PM 2.5. It contributes to air pollution, as well as like cancer and heart attacks.
鈥淵ou can breathe (those particles) in very deeply to these little sacs at the end of your lungs called the alveoli, and that's where the blood-air exchange happens,鈥� Carlton said. 鈥淭hat's what makes this sized particle such a health hazard.鈥�
Researchers from Stanford and Harvard between 2000 and 2016, average annual PM 2.5 levels dropped in most states 鈥� largely due in part to advances made under the . But since 2016, wildfire smoke has affected PM 2.5 trends in three-fourths of the United States. Additionally, that smoke has reversed 25% of the air quality progress made since 2000.
鈥淟iving here in Colorado, we know how much we're experiencing smoke throughout the summer, and actually throughout the year, both locally and regionally,鈥� said Christine Wiedinmyer, the associate director of science for the at the University of Colorado Boulder. 鈥淭his was not a surprise.鈥�
The research 鈥� which was published in the journal Nature this month 鈥� only recorded data from 2000 to 2022, so it did not include data on the intense fires in and last summer.
Climate change is part of the issue, but federal air quality rules are, too. The Environmental Protection Agency allows air quality limits to fluctuate during what they call 鈥�,鈥� like wildfire. Many experts have proven that most of the times when EPA limits are exceeded, it is due to wildfires.
鈥淪tate and local entities can apply for this exceptional event and say, 鈥楬ey, it's not our fault,鈥欌�� Carlton said. 鈥淛ust from my own perspective, if we know that fires are increasing in terms of frequency and intensity and amount of impact on air quality, then it's not really an exceptional event anymore.鈥�
This comes as experts from the report that the number of wildfires globally will increase by 50% by the end of the century. Finding a solution to this increase is not as simple as one might think.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like it's the tailpipe out of our cars or an industrial plant where we can just implement a new technology and turn it off,鈥� Wiedinmyer said. 鈥淲ildfires are a lot more challenging because they're influenced by a lot of natural systems.鈥�
For those interested in looking at local air quality levels during a wildfire, visit for current data or look for more tips at the American Lung Association鈥檚 .
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .
