More than 400 indirect deaths linked to Los Angeles forest fires, the study suggests

It is estimated that more than 400 additional deaths are linked to forest fires that Los Angeles devastated earlier this year, according to a new study.

The figure, published on Wednesday In the Medical Journal JamaAnalyze the deaths that have been attributed to the factors caused by forest fires, such as poor air quality and delays to access medical care.

It is a higher figure than the official death count of 31 by the Los Angeles County, which told the deaths caused directly by the fires.

The study occurs when hundreds of forest fires are burned in the United States and Canada, which caused air quality notices in cities such as Chicago, Buffalo and New York.

The fires of Palisades and Eaton crossed Los Angeles in January, destroying thousands of structures and leading to the evacuation of more than 100,000 Los Angeles residents.

The last study revealed that it is estimated that around 440 people died as a result of forest fires between January 5 and February 1.

The researchers said they annulled the figure by observing all the deaths and their causes in Los Angeles during the fire period, and comparing it with similar data of previous years.

The results show that there were almost 7% of deaths during forest fires. Some are attributed to pulmonary and cardiac conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress, while others are more indirect, such as delayed health treatment for patients with dialysis or cancer as a result of fire -related interruptions.

The authors said that the findings underline the need for officials to tell the direct and indirect deaths of forest fires and other climate -related emergencies when trying to quantify their impact.

“They also highlight the need to improve mortality surveillance during and after forest fire emergencies,” said the authors, noting that their figures are provisional, since there may have been additional deaths related to the fire beyond the reach of the study.

The BBC has communicated with Los Angeles County officials to comment on the study findings.

Other Study published Wednesday in Jama That analyzed the sequelae of the 2023 Maui forest fires showed that 22% of adults in the region had reduced lung function, and half showed symptoms of depression.

The fires, which exploded in August 2023 and were the worst to affect Hawaii in recent history, killed at least 102 people and destroyed more than 2,000 structures.

The authors of the Maui study said that their results show the need for “sustained clinical monitoring and community health support” months after a climate disaster.

TO Second study on Hawaii fires He suggests that Maui saw the highest suicide and suicide overdose rates in the month of the 2023 forest fires.

Forest fires have become more frequent in recent years as a result of climate change, driven by the hottest and driest climate that feeds the propagation of fire.

In addition to directly threatening lives and structures, it has been shown that the smoke of forest fires has adverse health effects on people.

It has been found that the smoke of forest fires is detrimental to certain immune cells in the lungs, with toxicity four times greater than the particles of other types of pollution.

This can have a long -term impact on cardiovascular health, experts said.

Older people, pregnant women and young children, as well as those with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease or asthma, are more likely to get sick, experts say. But smoke can also affect healthy adults.