Raging Fires (IMAGE) University of Iowa Caption Researchers at the University of Iowa have found wildfires originating in the western United States and Canada have erased air quality gains over the past two decades and caused an increase of premature deaths in fire-prone areas and downwind regions. This map shows the areas with the highest concentrations (in red) of black carbon, a fine-particle air pollutant that has been linked with human respiratory and heart disease. Credit Jun Wang lab, University of Iowa Usage Restrictions There are no restrictions to use this image. License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.