Toxic wildfire smoke linked to 100,000 additional deaths each year, UN warns

Tuesday 08 September 2026 - 14:30

By: Azzat Manal

Toxic wildfire smoke linked to 100,000 additional deaths each year, UN warns

Toxic smoke from wildfires may have contributed to around 100,000 additional deaths each year between 2010 and 2018, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency.

The report highlights the growing impact of wildfires on air quality, warning that the number of severe wildfire smoke events worldwide has tripled since the 1990s. The estimated death toll is likely to be higher than current figures suggest, as the full health impact of prolonged exposure to wildfire pollution remains difficult to measure.

Wildfires are becoming an increasingly important source of atmospheric pollution at a time when many developed countries have succeeded in reducing emissions from industry and transport through environmental regulations and climate policies. The progress made in controlling traditional sources of pollution is increasingly being challenged by smoke generated by extreme fires.

The WMO report focuses in particular on fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone, two major air pollutants associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Smoke from large-scale fires can carry these pollutants over long distances, exposing populations far from the areas where the fires initially occur.

The situation has become more concerning as climate change contributes to hotter and, in some regions, drier conditions that can increase the likelihood and intensity of wildfires. Repeated heatwaves can also worsen air pollution by creating conditions that allow pollutants to remain concentrated near the ground.

In 2025, unusually high concentrations of fine particles were recorded in northern Canada, parts of Russia and areas of western and central Africa amid significant wildfire activity. Northwestern Spain also experienced severe air pollution during an intense and exceptional wildfire season toward the end of summer.

The effects are not limited to immediate health risks. Repeated exposure to wildfire smoke can place additional pressure on healthcare systems and increase risks for vulnerable groups, including older people, children and individuals with existing respiratory or cardiovascular problems.

The United Nations is also calling for stronger monitoring of pollutants such as black carbon, commonly known as soot, as well as airborne microplastics. According to the report, surveillance of these pollutants remains insufficient despite evidence of their widespread presence in the atmosphere.

The WMO's findings underline the need for improved wildfire monitoring, early-warning systems and air-quality information to help communities respond to dangerous smoke episodes. Reducing exposure during major fires, while addressing the environmental conditions that contribute to increasingly severe wildfire seasons, is becoming an important public-health priority.