MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Days of wildfire smoke exposure are becoming more frequent in Wisconsin.
And it accounts for an estimated 250 premature deaths in Wisconsin every year, according to new analysis by Clean Wisconsin
“Comparatively, in the past five years, we’ve had about nine days a year where smoke has caused unhealthy air quality somewhere in Wisconsin, as opposed to less than one day a year between 2010 and 2020,” says Science Program Director Dr. Paul Mathewson. He says one of the most dangerous wildfire smoke pollutants is fine particulate matter.
“These fine particulates get deep into your lungs and can even cross over into our bloodstream. And once in the bloodstream, they can cause problems throughout the body,” Mathewson said.
Clean Wisconsin says this highlights the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuel power generation to clean energy in Wisconsin.