University of Iowa researchers track worsening surface ozone pollution from wildfires

By: Brooklyn Draisey

Outlets: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published: June 19, 2026

Words: 773

Last Updated: 1 month ago

Body Text Preview

Wildfires have reversed years of progress toward mitigating ozone pollution, worsening air quality and causing premature deaths, University of Iowa researchers have found.

Eleven “uncontained large” wildfires were burning simultaneously across the United States as of June 12, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Halfway through 2026, more than 32,000 wildfires have swept across more than 2.5 million acres, beating 10-year averages by thousands of fires and acreage.

The closest blaze to Iowa …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us