The Hidden Health Threat of Urban Wildfires

From late January to early February 2022, scientists from the University of Boulder tested eight houses in the region and found elevated concentrations of potentially harmful carcinogens known as toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons hiding in small particles of dust trapped in the walls or floating through the air. This class of chemicals occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline, and can cause harmful effects on the skin, lung function, and immune system for people exposed to high levels for long periods of time, according to a growing body of research.