A study published in the Communications Earth & Environment journal reveals that each hectare of forest burned in the Amazon generates health costs of $2 million a year due to lung and heart infections caused by the resulting pollution. 

Forest cover is shown to have a significant impact on reducing respiratory and cardiovascular infections, with forests in Indigenous territories preventing 15 million such infections annually. 

The authors suggest that reducing deforestation, strengthening environmental legislation, increasing penalties for those who deforest and burn forests, and strengthening fire management and control agencies are necessary steps to reduce the threat of fires. 

However, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has surged by 75% compared to the previous decade despite government vows to reverse environmental destruction.