Wildfire smoke increases risks of dementia, asthma and other ailments, UM researchers say

DETROIT — The wildfire smoke that has blanketed the state this month - and the four-county GLOW region in Upstate New York - could take a toll on the health of residents long after clearing.

The particles that form plumes of wildfire smoke are small (the average human hair is at least 30 times larger). That means they can seep into our blood, where they pose a triple threat to our lungs, hearts and brains, medical researchers say.