Media release

From: The Lancet

The Lancet: Around 1.5 million deaths globally per year associated with air pollution from landscape fires between 2000 and 2019, study suggests

Around 1.5 million deaths per year globally were associated with health impacts from air pollution caused by landscape fires between 2000 and 2019, according to a study recently published in The Lancet. The study highlights notable geographical and socioeconomic disparities in these health impacts, revealing that over 90% of these deaths occurred in low-and middle-income countries. 

Landscape fires are fires that occur in natural and cultural landscapes, including both wildfires and human-planned fires. While these fires can result in direct fatalities, the majority of deaths associated with them stem from the air pollution they generate, which contributes to long-term health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. 

The study is the largest and most comprehensive assessment to date of the health risks associated with air pollution from landscape fires. It found an increasing number of global cardiovascular deaths associated with this pollution with approximately 450,000 deaths per year attributed to cardiovascular disease, and 220,000 deaths attributable to respiratory disease. However, the authors emphasise the need for further research to fully understand the broader impacts of these health risks on overall human health and well-being. 

The authors call for urgent action to mitigate the substantial health impacts of air pollution from landscape fires, particularly as climate change continues to increase in intensity. They advocate for addressing the socioeconomic disparities in mortality rates by providing financial and technological support from high-income countries to help more vulnerable developing countries, along with climate mitigation and adaptation policies, to manage the health impacts of landscape fire-related air pollution.