Action is necessary on wildfires and climate
HeraldNet.com
HeraldNet.com - Everett and Snohomish County news from The Daily Herald in Everett, Washington
As we approach the summer months, we Washingtonians are all eager to feel the sun on our skin after a long, cold, winter. With our excitement for the warmth comes an unwelcomed beast: wildfires. Exacerbated in recent years by climate change, wildfire smoke led Seattle to take the crown for worst air quality in the world on multiple occasions last year. Air quality is a serious issue facing the Western U.S. and many parts of the globe, and the health outcomes of wildfire smoke in particular are concerning. According to the EPA, reduced lung function, worsening asthma, heart failure, and eye and respiratory tract irritation are all possible consequences. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service details that while wildfire is a natural process, there are multiple negative impacts on the environment ranging from habitat loss to increased carbon dioxide emissions, further intensifying climate change.