Futurity February 20, 2024
Wildfires lead to an increase of anxiety-related emergency department visits in the western United States, a new study shows.
The findings amplify the concerning parallel trajectory of two escalating public health crises—mental health and climate change.
The study is among the largest and most comprehensive research ever undertaken on the association between wildfire-related exposures and anxiety disorders.
Analyzing satellite-driven data and nearly 1.9 million emergency department visits across five states (California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah) from 2007-18, the researchers showed wildfire smoke events—when wildfires become the main source of ambient pollution within a ZIP code—are associated with a 6.3% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits.
In addition to this startling data, the study shows:
- Women, girls, and...
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