In the summer of 2023, massive wildfires in Canada sent unprecedented amount of smoke to the Great Lakes region. Doctors and emergency rooms saw an uptick in patients coming in for things like asthma and breathing problems.
“Patients were coming in for all manner of problems from breathing, but also eye irritations. Heart problems are also connected with wildfire smoke,” said Brett Walton, who covered the story for Circle of Blue.
As climate change makes wildfires more common, work needs to be done to prepare people and communities for a smokier future.
This story is part of The Checkup, a project of the Great Lakes News Collaborative.
