Forest fire smoke increases cancer risk.

NEW MEXICO : Breathing wildfire smoke can significantly increase the risk of lung, colon, breast, bladder and blood cancers, a new study suggests. According to lead author Shenzhen Wu of the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Center, the full-body effects of this smoke in real-life situations are not yet clear, but the toxic components in this smoke are not limited to the lungs but can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. In this way, they affect various biological systems and can accelerate the process of cancer formation. Exposure to smoke itself triggers an inflammatory process, which can further increase the risk of cancer by affecting the entire body. These results were revealed in a study presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026.