What is California's wildfire smoke doing to our health? Scientists paint a bleak picture
Historic wildfires burning across Californiahave sent a 500-mile-long gray blob of smoky air swirling above the western United States,and Stanford researcher Bibek Paudelis already seeing the health effects build up.
In the days after lightning sparked hundreds of firesacross the north of the state, Paudel, who studies respiratory illness at Stanford’s allergy and asthma research center, saw hospital admissions for asthma to the university’s healthcare system rise by 10% and cerebrovascular incidents such as strokes jump by 23%.Based on the center’s studies of recent fires, Paudel expects that the number of heart attacks, kidney problems and even mental health issues will also climb.
The research is part of a growing body of scientific evidence painting
