As wildfires continue to increase in Texas, smoke and ash fill the air. Along with the environmental impacts of the fire, poor air quality can become a major concern for those in Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.
Exposure to unhealthy air quality and air pollution can negatively affect respiratory and cardiovascular health and increase the chance of chronic diseases and premature death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yunyao Li, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, researches wildfire satellite tracking and the effects of air pollution from the fires. Li said wildfires, like the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County, release harmful chemicals and gases while burning…