Long-range PM_2.5 pollution and health impacts from the 2023 Canadian wildfires.

ABSTRACT: Smoke from extreme wildfires in Canada adversely affected air quality in many regions in 2023^1,2. Here we use satellite observations, machine learning and a chemical transport model to quantify global and regional PM_2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter) exposure and human health impacts related to the 2023 Canadian wildfires. We find that the fires increased annual PM_2.5 exposure worldwide by 0.17 μg m^-3 (95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.26 μg m^-3). North America had the largest increase in annual mean exposure (1.08 μg m^-3; 0.82-1.34 μg m^-3), but there were also increases in Europe (0.41 μg m^-3; 0.32-0.50 μg m^-3) owing to long-range transport. Annual mean PM_2.5 expo

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12443613 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature