The study says that more than 400 indirect deaths are linked to Los Angeles fires

More than 400 additional deaths are estimated at the forest fires that destroyed Los Angeles earlier this year, according to a new study.

The number, published on Wednesday In the medical journal JamaThe deaths due to the factors caused by forest fires, such as poor air quality and delay in accessing health care.

It is a number higher than the official death toll caused by Los Angeles County, which calculates the deaths that caused the fires directly and jumped to 31 last month after finding additional human remains.

The study comes at a time when hundreds of forest fires are burning throughout the United States and Canada, pushing air quality consultations in cities such as Chicago, Bvalo and New York.

The fires of Palisades and Eaton in the Los Angeles area in January were tolerated, destroying thousands of structures and leading to the evacuation of more than 100,000 in the region.

The recent study revealed that about 440 people had died as a result of forest fires between January 5 and February 1.

The researchers said that they collected the number by looking at all deaths and their causes in Los Angeles during the fire period, and comparing them with similar data from previous years.

The results showed that there are approximately 7 % deaths during forest fires. Some are attributed to lung diseases and hearts that have been exacerbated by smoke or stress, while others are indirect – such as the delay in the treatment of health care for dialysis patients or cancer patients as a result of fire disorders.

The authors said that the results emphasize the need of officials to calculate direct and indirect deaths for forest fires and other climate -related emergency situations when trying to determine their effect.

The authors said: “They also highlight the need to improve death monitoring during and after the emergency in the wilderness,” noting that their numbers are temporary as there may have been additional fire -related deaths that exceed the scope of study.

In response to an investigation from the BBC, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health in Los Angeles said that the agency “has no specific comment on the study.”

“However, it is not unusual for emergencies or disasters unfortunately to lead to premature or extra deaths,” the spokesman said.

“These types of accidents often overwhelm systems, and natural services that are still limited to life are disrupted, and people are often exposed to harmful environments, which leads to early deaths from expected and more than expected.”

last The study was released on Wednesday at Jama This was shown in the aftermath of the Forest Forest 2023 that 22 % of adults in the region have reduced lung function, and half symptoms of depression.

The fires, which erupted in August 2023 and were the worst in the influence of Hawaii in modern history, killed at least 102 people and destroyed more than 2000 buildings.

MAUI study authors said that their results show the need for “continuous clinical monitoring and societal mental health support” months after the climate disaster.

A The second study on Hawaiian fires It indicates that Maui witnessed the highest levels of suicide and increased drug dose in the month of forest fires 2023.

Forest fires have become more frequent in recent years as a result of climate change, driven by the hottest and dry weather that spreads its fire.

In addition to the threat of life and direct structures, it was found that the smoke resulting from forest fires has healthy effects on people.

Washing fire smoke is found to be harmful to some immune cells in the lungs, with a four -time toxicity of particles of other types of pollution.

Experts said this could have a long -term effect on cardiovascular health.

Experts say that the elderly, pregnant women and young children, as well as those who suffer from basic health conditions, such as heart or asthma, are likely to be sick. But smoke can also affect healthy adults.