Deaths of 1.5 million a year linked to pollution caused by bushfires, study finds

Around 1.5 million deaths per year around the world are linked to air pollution caused by bushfires and similar blazes, a study has found.

Most of the deaths associated with landscape fires between 2000 and 2019, including bushfires, agricultural fires and controlled burns, stemmed from the air pollution the fires generated, the researchers found.

While the fires can also directly kill people, the majority of deaths were due to the pollution contributing to long-term health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

READ MORE: The Aussie states at the highest risk of bushfires this spring

The Australian-led study, published in The Lancet, found over 90 per cent of attributable deaths were in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, south Asia, and east Asia.

It's the largest assessment ever done of the issue.

It found an increasing number of global cardiovascular deaths associated with the pollution, with around 450,000 deaths per year attributed to cardiovascular disease, and 220,000 deaths to respiratory disease.

The authors said more research is needed - as also called for action on climate change.

The worst Australian bushfires during that time were in 2019 - 2020.

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A series of catastrophic bushfires raged throughout NSW, destroying approximately millions of hectares.

The fires took more than 2500 homes and more than 30 lives, including those of six firefighters.

Billions of animals were also killed.

The nation's spring outlook has warned of increased bushfire risks.