A Caltech study estimates nearly seven million people breathed lead concentrations 80 times normal background for 24 hours. It measures exposure, not clinical cases, and shows that burning cities produce smoke unlike wildland fire.
Pakistan's winter pollution has credible pathways of harm for birds and mammals, but regional data on mortality, reproduction and migration are missing. Experts call for multiyear One Health biomonitoring.
At least 895,657 hectares have burned since January, while respiratory cases in affected provinces exceeded 113,000 by September 9. El Niño worsens drought, but human ignition, drained peatlands and forest degradation explain the crisis.