But mounting evidence shows that pollution from wildfire smoke is eclipsing those air-quality gains. Wildfire smoke exposures are likely to have vast public health consequences, Jaspers said. The new study highlighted regions and populations that were disproportionately affected by wildfire smoke. Since exposure to wildfire smoke early in life can cause life-long health problems, reducing exposure in the prenatal period will yield long-term benefits, Boudreaux said. What is clear, he said, is that wildfire smoke now accounts for an increasing share of “acute, massive air pollution days” that endanger babies’ health.