{
  "id": 6142255,
  "title": "Heatwaves, Wildfires Worsening Air Quality Worldwide, WMO Warns Of Growing Health Risks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/heatwaves-wildfires-worsening-air-quality-worldwide-wmo-warns-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T14:11:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/heatwaves-wildfires-worsening-air-quality-worldwide-wmo-warns-of-growing-health-risks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Delhi, September 7, 2026: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a dire warning about the worsening air quality worldwide due to escalating wildfires and unprecedented heatwaves caused by climate change. Regions that had previously managed to lower pollution levels from vehicles and industries are facing a new peril: wildfire smoke. The report also underscores the exacerbating effect of higher temperatures during severe heatwaves, which boost ground-level ozone concentrations. \"Air quality and climate are inextricably linked and must be addressed together,\" stated Lorenzo Labrador, a scientific officer at the WMO. The report highlights the growing health risks associated with wildfire smoke, which contains high levels of fine particulate matter. Exposure to this smoke can lead to increased asthma attacks, hospitalization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heightened respiratory medication usage, as well as adverse impacts on mental health and birth outcomes. A study mentioned in the report revealed that a tripling of wildfires since the 1990s may have caused nearly 100,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2018. The WMO also examined ground-level ozone, which tends to rise during intense, prolonged heatwaves, such as those experienced across Europe this summer. Once in the lungs, ozone can cause inflammation and circulatory problems, potentially leading to heart complications. Another concern is the impact of airborne particles on climate. These particles contribute to aerosols, which can alter cloud properties, affecting the Earth's climate. Moreover, the deposition of soot on snow and ice speeds up melting, further intensifying global warming. The WMO emphasizes that combating climate change and air pollution must go hand in hand, as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption simultaneously improves air quality.",
  "summary": "New Delhi, September 7, 2026: Rising wildfires and increasingly intense heatwaves fuelled by the climate crisis are undermining improvements in air quality worldwide and creating serious health risks, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Regions that have succeeded in reducing pollution from vehicles and industrial activity are increasingly being exposed to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}