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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists at Rutgers University found that smoke from Canadian wildfires, which is heated up and collects toxins as it travels, significantly impacts air quality and may be more dangerous than pollution from car emissions

🔭 The context: Air samples from New Jersey and the Philadelphia region were analyzed, and the smoke was found to be pervasive on certain days, depending on wind patterns
• Researchers identified a dramatic increase in wildfire pollution this year, reaching a peak on June 7

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The increasing prevalence of wildfires, fueled by climate change, presents a growing threat to air quality and public health
• The microscopic particles generated by wildfire smoke can penetrate deeply into the airways, causing irritation and potential breathing difficulties

• ⏭️ What's next: As the trend of worsening wildfires is not expected to cease soon, the public is advised to use air filters and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during air quality alerts

💬 One quote: "It's not something that will disappear any time soon; on the contrary, it's gonna get worse and worse" (Jose Laurent, a researcher involved in the study)

📈 One stat: The study demonstrated a significant spike in wildfire pollution this year, with levels on June 7 comparable to exposure to secondhand smoke in a bar before smoking bans were implemented

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