The Nation's Health | R Chavez/Digital First Medi/The Mercury News/Getty
The burning of buildings, infrastructure and cars releases a cocktail of pollutants into the air and soil that science is only beginning to unravel. The toxins have been linked to cancer, respiratory ailments and other chronic diseases. At the same time, numerous studies have shown that wildfire smoke exposure places survivors at risk for chronic respiratory problems, with some research linking it to skin diseases, eye ailments and cancer.