Ontario Tech University – Ontario Tech University researchers highlight the long-term health impacts of wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke has become an increasingly familiar part of Canadian summers, affecting communities thousands of kilometres from the fires themselves.

While hazy skies and poor air quality are often temporary, Ontario Tech University researchers are examining how some health effects can persist long after the smoke clears.

Much of the concern centres on PM2.5, the fine particulate matter found in wildfire smoke.

These tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, contributing to inflammation throughout the body.