Lower test scores from wildfire smoke exposure

Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity over the past two decades, threatening to undo substantial air quality improvements. We investigate relationship between wildfire smoke exposure learning outcomes across United States using standardized test scores from 2009–2016 for nearly 11,700 school districts satellite-derived estimates of daily exposure. Relative a year with no smoke, average cumulative smoke-attributable PM2.5 (surface particulate matter <2.5 μg m−3) during (~35 reduces by ~0.15% standard deviation. These impacts are more pronounced among younger students observed differing levels economic disadvantage racial/ethnic composition. Additionally, we project that 2016 reduced discounted future earnings $1.7 billion ($111 per student). Roughly 80% these costs borne disadvantaged districts. Our findings quantify previously unaccounted social cost is likely worsen under warming climate. Wildfire increases worsening many regions, undoing gains pollution control. This study finds States, fine particulates worsened scores, especially students, most