A new study of 200,000 pregnant women found that exposure to more than 10 days of wildfire smoke during late pregnancy was linked to a 23% higher risk of autism in their children. Wildfire smoke contains a unique mix of fine particles and toxic chemicals—often arriving in intense bursts. You can’t control wildfires. But you can reduce your exposure. Stay indoors on smoky days, keep the windows closed, and use a HEPA air cleaner if you can.
Clean air matters—especially when the brain is growing fast.