Wildfire smoke seeps into homes. Global protection would cost billions.

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new global study published in Science Advances reveals that over 1 billion people — approximately 1 in 8 worldwide — were exposed to at least one day of unhealthy indoor air annually from wildfire smoke between 2003 and 2022
• While staying indoors offers some protection, microscopic pollutants such as PM2.5 particles still seep into buildings, posing serious health risks
• The study highlights stark inequalities, with lower-income countries in Central Africa experiencing the highest levels of indoor smoke exposure and facing disproportionate health burdens

🔭 The context: Historically, research on wildfire pollution has focused on outdoor air quality, despite people spending over 80% of their time indoors
• As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity due to climate change, indoor exposure is emerging as a critical but underexplored public health threat
• Current guidance to "stay indoors" during wildfire events often fails to account for the penetration of smoke particles into poorly insulated or under-ventilated homes, particularly in low-resource settings

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Indoor air pollution from wildfires adds a significant and often overlooked dimension to climate-related health risks
• With an estimated $4 trillion needed to meet WHO indoor air quality standards globally, the findings underline the environmental justice challenge of protecting vulnerable populations
• In regions already grappling with weak infrastructure and limited health care, prolonged exposure to PM2.5 exacerbates respiratory diseases and cognitive impairments, reinforcing global health inequalities

⏭️ What's next: The study’s authors advocate for targeted policy interventions and international support to subsidize air purifiers and enhance building insulation in low-income regions
• As wildfire seasons intensify across North America, Siberia, and beyond, governments may face growing pressure to integrate indoor air quality measures into national disaster preparedness strategies
• Without coordinated action, the health burden will likely grow, especially in countries with limited means to self-finance mitigation

💬 One quote: “These people have the right to breathe clean air inside their homes,” — Yifang Zhu, professor at UCLA and a peer reviewer of the study. “This is more a government responsibility”

📈 One stat: Mitigating wildfire-related PM2.5 exposure alone would cost over $68 billion globally — a figure that underscores the scale of investment needed for basic air quality improvements

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