Extreme heat, wildfire smoke harm low-income and nonwhite communities the most, study finds
Published on February 7, 2024
Extreme heat and wildfire smoke together pose a dangerous threat to the body’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems—with those in low-income and nonwhite communities impacted the most. According to a California-based study stpublished in the journal Science Advances, climate change is increasing the frequency of both hazards, particularly in California. The authors found that the combined harm of extreme heat and inhalation of wildfire smoke increased hospitalizations and disproportionately impacted low-income communities and Latino, Black, Asian and other racially marginalized residents.