Canadian wildfires had global impact on premature deaths in 2023, new study says

Smoke from Canada’s record-breaking 2023 wildfire season may have led to more than an estimated 82,000 premature deaths globally, according to a new study.

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, highlights the far-reaching impact of pollution and associated deaths caused by the Canadian fires, primarily in North America and Europe. Researchers concluded that more than 354 million people worldwide were exposed to Canada’s wildfire toxins.