Wildfire smoke leaves a large five-year imprint on mortality in the United States

Wildfire smoke poses a growing health risk worldwide, yet the magnitude and temporal evolution of mortality after episodic exposure remain poorly resolved, limiting burden assessment. Using monthly county-level wildfire PM2.5 and mortality data from the United State, we exploit episodic exposure contrasts to deconvolve overlapping mortality responses and recover the impulse-response function. The excess mortality response peaks approximately three years after an exposure pulse and subsides by five years. We estimate 1.7 (95% uncertainty interval: 1.1-2.3) million smoke-associated deaths during

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement, treatment, or program — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition.