As wildfires worsen, exposure to smoke may increase risk of several cancers - The Washington Post

A study presented at an American Association for Cancer Research meeting found prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the risk of several types of cancer. With U.S. adult cigarette smoking now at an all-time low (about one in 11 adults), tobacco-related cancer burden is declining, which could make wildfire smoke a relatively more important contributor to population-level cancer risk. The American Lung Association's report — showing 152 million Americans breathe unhealthy air — reinforces concerns that rising smoke exposure from more frequent wildfires could significantly increase cancer burden and prompt greater legal, regulatory and public-health attention to environmental carcinogens.