Long-range PM_2.5 pollution and health impacts from the 2023 Canadian wildfires

Smoke from extreme wildfires in Canada adversely affected air quality in many regions in 2023^1,2. Here we use satellite observations, machine learning and a chemical transport model to quantify global and regional PM_2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter) exposure and human health impacts related to the 2023 Canadian wildfires. We find that the fires increased annual PM_2.5 exposure worldwide by 0.17 μg m^–3 (95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.26 μg m^–3). North America had the largest increase in annual mean exposure (1.08 μg m^–3; 0.82–1.34 μg m^–3), but there were also increases in Europe (0.41 μg m^–3; 0.32–0.50 μg m^–3) owing to long-range transport. Annual mean PM_2.5 exposure in Canada increased by 3.82 μg m^–3 (3.00–4.64 μg m^–3). In the USA, the contribution of the Canadian fires to increased PM_2.5 was 1.49 μg m^–3 (1.22–1.77 μg m^–3), four times as large as the contribution from the 2023 wildfires originating in the USA. We find that 354 million (277–421 million) people in North America and Europe were exposed to daily PM_2.5 air pollution caused by Canadian wildfires in 2023. We estimate that 5,400 (3,400–7,400) acute deaths in North America and 64,300 (37,800–90,900) chronic deaths in North America and Europe were attributable to PM_2.5 exposure to the 2023 Canadian wildfires. Our results highlight the far-reaching PM_2.5 pollution and health burden that large wildfires can have in a single year.