‘I couldn’t breathe’: the deadly health burden of wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke drifted across Toronto, turning the sky what one hospital emergency department head called "almost post-apocalyptic" orange. According to The Guardian, Erin O'Connor, who runs the emergency department at University Health Network's Toronto General hospital, described a burning smell so strong it hit you in the face outdoors, and said she saw more patients coming in with allergies and shortness of breath as the smoke lingered. The Guardian notes scientists are still working to untangle the health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure as fire weather becomes more common.

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