‘I couldn’t breathe’: the deadly health burden of wildfire smoke
Scientists race to untangle complex links between exposure and mortality as fire weather grows more prevalent A thousand kilometres from the infernos gorging on northern Ontario’s boreal forests, Erin O’Connor watched the sky above Canada’s biggest city turn an “almost post-apocalyptic” orange as it filled with light-scattering particles of soot and ash. Stepping outside the halls of Toronto…
Wildfire smoke has emerged as a significant health concern, with scientists endeavoring to decipher the intricate relationships between exposure and mortality rates. The phenomenon has grown more prevalent, particularly in regions far from the actual infernos. A vivid illustration of this issue unfolded in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, where the skyline adopted an "almost post-apocalyptic" orange hue, suffused with light-scattering particles of soot and ash.
Erin O’Connor, affiliated with University Health Network’s emergency department, found herself in the eye of the storm as she stepped outside the hospital. The air filtration systems kept the patients safe from the harshest of the fumes, yet the olfactory assault was palpable. The acrid scent of smoke assaulted her senses as soon as she exited the building, a sensation that pervaded the city, both indoors and outdoors. O’Connor noted that the smell was particularly potent, likening it to being near a campfire.
The impact of this smoky haze extended beyond mere annoyance, manifesting as a surge in patients seeking medical attention for allergy symptoms and respiratory distress. The days turned into a prolonged ordeal, with the noxious odor seemingly omnipresent, even within the confines of enclosed spaces.
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- ‘I couldn’t breathe’: the deadly health burden of wildfire smoke theguardian.com
