Large wildfires and severe heat events are happening more often simultaneously, worsening air pollution across the western U.S. In 2020, more than 68% of the area, representing about 43 million people, were affected in one day by the resulting harmful-levels of air pollution, the highest number in 20 years. These concurrent air pollution events are increasing not only in frequency but duration and geographic extent across the region. They have become so bad that they’ve reversed many Clean Air Act gains. The conditions creating these episodes are also expected to continue to increase, along with their serious threats to human health.
Story Source: Washington State University
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220106110019.htm