Large transboundary health impact of Arctic wildfire smoke

These fires lead to substantial deterioration in summer air quality in the region, with a factor 4 increase in summer fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in parts of Siberia during 1998-2020. Exposure to PM2.5 is associated with increased risk of mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and the atmospheric lifetime of PM2.5 means that it can be efficiently transported between regions and nations.

We used the Community Earth System Model to quantify the fraction of PM2.5 attributed to high latitude wildfires that occur in the Arctic Council member states and estimated the attributable health impact locally and in neighbouring countries. During 2001-2020 we attribute similar to 21,000 excess deaths to Arctic Council wildfires on average each year, of which similar to 8000 occur in countries outside the Arctic Council.