Exposure to fire smoke—which can be composed of particulate matter, gases, materials from buildings such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic metals, and carcinogenic compounds—may alter the immune system on a cellular level, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first to examine the specific cellular changes associated with fire smoke exposure, documenting how smoke can damage the body through the immune system.

When a team of scientists led by a Washington State University researcher examined the way that more than 9,400 children grew from toddlers to pre-adolescents, two distinct trajectories emerged--one of which showed kids on the path to obesity at a young age.