Deadly 'Smoke Waves' Threaten Millions of Americans -- What You Need to Know

California and the American West have been devastated by a series of wildfire in the past few months. And the worsening climate change is not going to make it easier for the rest of us.

Scientists have predicted that irreversible "smoke waves" will take over the U.S. following the wildfire ravaging the country. "Smoke waves" is the term the scientists use to describe two or more consecutive days of unhealthy levels of pollution from wildfires.

Based on the interactive map devised by scientists at Harvard and Yale, 312 counties will experience more intense smoke waves with higher amounts of PM 2.5.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that PM 2.5 are particulate matters found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets. It poses great health risks as it can go directly to the respiratory system.

The map allows scientists to view the recent and predicted level of pollution across 561 Western counties. The model distinguishes between pollution caused by wildfires and other sources.

"It hasn't been well understood which populations will be most affected by the threat of air pollution from wildfires induced by climate change," said Loretta J. Mickley, senior research fellow at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and co-author of the paper, in a press release.

"If we can better predict, down to a county level, who will be most affected, the U.S. Forest Service can prioritize efforts to reduce wildfire risk, such as setting prescribed fires to clear out dry underbrush."

Nevertheless, counties with the highest population and highest level of risk of wildfire smoke exposure are placed under the researchers watch list -- San Francisco County, Calif.; King County, Wash.; Alameda County, Calif.; and Contra Costa County, Calif.

The researchers predict that "smoke waves" will happen in the next 30 years. Take Part, a website dedicated to issues regarding climate change notes the total number of people affected will rise from 57 to 82 million, including 7 million more children and 5.7 million more elderly people.

The complete findings were published in the Journal Climatic Change.