THE ENVIRONMENT

Cool Planets are Hard to Find

In three months, wildfires in the US already destroyed a larger area than last year in six months

Wildfires in Alberta have already burned more than three times the average for around this time of year. (Photo by Caleb Cook on Unsplash)

In three months, wildfires in the US already destroyed a larger area than last year in six months.

Air Quality Plummets in Parts of US to 25-Year Low

Approximately 44 million Americans have failing air quality ratings in their cities or counties. This decline in air quality, the worst in 25 years, spans parts of the US and is partly attributed to wildfires.

These are some conclusions in the latest “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association. It highlights that cities in the Western region, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino (California), and Phoenix (Arizona), experience the poorest air quality.

The primary cause of increased pollution is small particle pollution, which includes airborne soot from sources like wildfire smoke. This type of pollution has profound health implications, including heart strain, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and low birth weights.

Air quality in Europe has improved over the past ten years, and the European Parliament recently adopted stricter, legally binding air…