Extreme heat and wildfire smoke can individually pose health risks, but a recent study suggests that when combined, their impact on the human body becomes even more dangerous. Published in the journal Science Advances, the study highlights how climate change is exacerbating both hazards, particularly in California. The research reveals that the combined harm of extreme heat and inhaling wildfire smoke leads to increased hospitalizations, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
The reasons for this disproportionate impact are multifaceted and complex, as outlined by the authors from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego and the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Structural racism, discriminatory practices, lack of medical insurance, less understanding of the health implications, and a higher prevalence of multiple underlying health conditions contribute to these disparities.
