Vulnerability to wildfire smoke is in our genes, thanks to an evolutionary quirk
When the sky becomes orange and hazy from wildfire smoke, modern humans are at greater risk than our earlier ancestors would have been.
Modern humans are more vulnerable to the health risks of wildfire smoke due to an evolutionary trait, according to a study. This trait was advantageous for fighting off tuberculosis, but it also makes us less efficient at clearing fine particles from air pollution. Wildfire smoke contains both volatile chemicals and small particles that can cause inflammation and exacerbate existing health conditions like asthma, COPD, and heart attacks.
While we have some protection against the smaller particles, our macrophages are less effective at ingesting them compared to those of other animals. This makes us uniquely sensitive to particulate air pollution, which can have both short-term and long-term health consequences, including increased risk of dementia, poor pregnancy outcomes, and lower intelligence and school performance in children.
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