Wildfires are reversing America’s progress on ozone pollution, the main ingredient in smog

Recent progress in reducing surface ozone pollution in the United States has been overshadowed by a growing source of ozone pollution from wildfires.
Wildfires have reversed the trend of declining surface ozone levels, leading to an increase in ozone levels since 2015.
The gases from wildfires have contributed to an increase in the number of ozone-related premature deaths by approximately 300 annually since 2015.
Ground-level ozone used to decline steadily until 2015, but it has since risen, especially in western U.S. and Midwest regions frequently affected by wildfire emissions.
Smoke and pollutants from wildfires are not limited to their immediate vicinity but can travel thousands of miles, impacting remote regions.
Increased wildfire activity due to climate change makes the ozone problem expected to grow, posing significant risks to human health.
Steps to reduce ozone exposure include monitoring air quality forecasts and minimizing outdoor activities during wildfire-affected periods.
Long-term solutions to protect public health require a combination of reducing fire risk, managing forests more sustainably, and addressing global temperature rise via fossil fuel reduction.