VANCOUVER—The year has been off to a calamitous start, and a devastating wildfire season might be the last thing people want to think about during the coronavirus pandemic, but experts say smoke from wildfires could make things worse. As spring begins, a group of University of British Columbia researchers want to help raise awareness about the likely links between air pollution and the novel coronavirus. “Infections are caused by virus and bacteria, but we know that when people are exposed to air pollution, those infections become more severe.”Brauer referred to Chinese researchers’ findings that air pollution was “significantly associated” with the SARS outbreak in 2003. Alberta’s provincial government had announced on March 2 that the wildfire season was already underway. Wildfire activity is currently very low, Lucius said, and a forecast for the severity of the wildfire season in western Canada is not yet available.

Source: thestar April 01, 2020 19:18 UTC