Health Impacts
What is the primary pollutant in wildfire smoke that causes respiratory problems?
PM2.5 (fine particulate)
Which group is disproportionately affected by wildfires in developing countries due to limited healthcare access?
Indigenous communities and rural populations
What was the hashtag that gained global traction during the 2019 Amazon wildfires?
#PrayforAmazonas
Exposure to wildfire smoke increases the risk of which two major types of diseases?
Respiratory diseases and cardiovascular
Why do wildfires cause more long-term health damage in developing countries than in developed ones?
Limited healthcare, poor air-quality monitoring, and lack of disaster response funding
How did international media cover Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires—natural disaster or climate crisis?
Covered for weeks and maintained headlines
In the 2019-20 Australian bushfires, how many excess deaths were attributed to smoke exposure?
417 deaths
What was the estimated economic loss from the 2019 Amazon wildfires?
$900 billion
Why was there polarized media coverage in Brazil regarding the 2019 Amazon wildfires?
Government-aligned media downplayed the fires, while independent media highlighted failures
Aside from physical health effects, what are two major mental health consequences of wildfire exposure?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety
Which developed country suffered its costliest natural disaster due to wildfires in 2019-20?
Australia
Which country’s wildfire response faced global criticism for downplaying the crisis and delaying action?
Brazil