El fuego se apaga, el daño a la salud no

The document outlines the severe health risks associated with wildfire smoke, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is linked to respiratory crises, cardiovascular events, and premature deaths. It highlights that these impacts are exacerbated by social inequalities and affect vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Beyond immediate smoke, the guide warns of long-term mental health issues and toxic contamination of soil and water by lead and asbestos. It encourages journalists to connect these events to fossil fuel use and to utilize specific air quality monitoring tools and expert sources.

• Wildfire smoke, specifically fine particles (PM2.5), poses significant health risks including asthma crises, COPD, respiratory infections, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.
• The Lancet Countdown 2025 report attributes approximately 154,000 premature deaths in 2024 to wildfire smoke, a figure that increases tenfold when including controlled burns and other fires.
• Health impacts are distributed unequally, disproportionately affecting children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions, as well as people unable to afford air purifiers or stay indoors.
• Wildfires cause long-term health damage beyond the immediate fire, including chronic mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as potential risks of premature births.
• Post-fire environments in inhabited areas can remain toxic due to ash containing lead and asbestos in soil and housing, and benzene contaminating drinking water for months.

APA

CCNow (2026). El fuego se apaga, el daño a la salud no. Covering Climate Now. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/el-fuego-se-apaga-el-dano-a-la-salud-no/

Chicago

CCNow. El fuego se apaga, el daño a la salud no. Covering Climate Now, 2026. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/el-fuego-se-apaga-el-dano-a-la-salud-no/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CCNow |title=El fuego se apaga, el daño a la salud no |publisher=Covering Climate Now |date=12 August 2026 |url=https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/el-fuego-se-apaga-el-dano-a-la-salud-no/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ccnow2026fuego, author = {CCNow}, title = {{El fuego se apaga, el daño a la salud no}}, institution = {Covering Climate Now}, year = {2026}, month = aug, url = {https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/el-fuego-se-apaga-el-dano-a-la-salud-no/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }