Wildfires have devastating consequences on the entire environment and ecosystems. These can lead to destructiveness as wildfires affect air quality. Because wildfires release smoke, particles and various pollutants in the atmosphere. As a result, we breathe the air with toxic pollutants.
A report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stated that wildfire seasons are more than 20%. Calculated longer than they were in the last two decades. Air pollution is one of the most insidious wildfire effects. Wildfire frequency has increased because of global warming and many human activities. Hence, Wildfires cause intense effects on public health, the atmosphere and climate change.
Let’s explore how wildfires affect air quality. Besides, their impact on the environment, and contribute to air pollution. You can also review recent data on wildfires contributing to poor air quality.
How do wildfires affect the air quality?
Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems to maintain the health of the environment. As it has extreme outcomes on wildlife, environmental sustainability and public health. Wildfires also result in air pollution because of trees and other organic compounds burning.
Air quality can worsen in many areas because of wildfires. Organic compound burning emits dangerous pollutants. Such as a significant amount of smog and other pollutants in the environment. Air pollution from wildfires significantly affects the lives of the public, causing climate change and other many other issues.
Here’s how wildfires affect air quality:
- Wildfires also result in air pollution because of trees and other organic compounds burning.
- Wind patterns facilitated the spread of smoke, affecting air quality even in regions distant from the fire sites.
- Vegetation burning releases carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Some weather conditions, such as temperature inversions, trapped pollutants, worsening air quality.
- VOCs and NOx released by wildfires can react with sunlight to form secondary pollutants like ground-level ozone.
What pollutants are released from wildfires?
Wildfires include the burning of a large area that causes wildfire smoke at an extensive level. It emits various pollutants mixture that are hazardous for humans and animals to inhale.
5 most treacherous pollutants released from wildfires:
1. Particulate matter (PM2.5, 10):
Fine particles highly released from the wildfires. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and are likely to cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Long-term PM2.5 exposure leads to asthma, heart attacks and related problems. Small particles can easily enter into the bloodstream of other organs.
Similarly, PM10 exposure has harmful effects on the human body. Long-term exposure to PM10 can irritate the nose, eyes, or throat.
2. Carbon Monoxide (CO):
The CO level can increase during wildfires because of poor ventilation. It is a colourless and odourless gas that has various dangerous health effects. Since the pollutant interferes with the oxygen flow in the blood, affecting the carrying ability. Short-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness, or breathing issues. However, long-term exposure can cause death because of high concentrations.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
VOCs are harmful compounds that evaporates easily at room temperature. These pollutants can cause various health issues. As reduces lung function, respiratory system irritation and other lung diseases.
4. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx):
Nitrogen oxides form because of smog and acid rain. These can exacerbate asthma, irritate the respiratory system and affect the lung’s function. Wildfires contribute to NOx emissions that can form secondary pollutants, including PM and Ozone. Hence, these can lead to influencing air quality.
5. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs):
Organic matter burning can emit chemicals of the PAHs group. Long-term exposure to these chemicals leads to extreme health issues, including cancer. Further, Inhaling can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
How does wildfire air pollution affect the environment and public health?
Air pollution because of wildfires has extreme effects on public health and the environment. It emits several pollutants that result in severe health issues. Furthermore, air pollution also results in climate change conditions. Let us know how air pollution because of wildfires affects the environment and public health:
Health:
Air pollution effects depend on the exposure time. Wildfires emit various pollutants, including particulate matter, O3, NOx and many other chemical compounds. Short-term exposure to these pollutants results in irritation in the throat or breath shortness. Moreover, long-term exposure can cause extreme health issues. Including cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory conditions. Similarly, the vulnerable groups have high risks from wildfire smoke. As exacerbating health conditions in children, elderly, pregnant women and people with asthma or other issues.
- Shortness of breath
- Throat irritation
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Chronic respiratory conditions
On environment:
Wildfires smoke highly affects the environment. As it significantly contributes to the climate change. Its smoke can reduce visibility in many areas and result in crop damage. The pollutants also result in lake and stream acidifications that affect coral health. Moreover, these particles and gases can travel to far regions and affect the air quality of different places.
- Crop Damages
- Lakes and stream acidifications
- Poor air quality in cities
What are Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for it?
Wildfire worsening the air quality requires urgent action. Because air pollution’s consequences on health are worsening and lethal. Some strategies can help to protect public health from air pollution. Managing forest fires with strategies can help. Addressing the air quality effects of wildfires requires a multifaceted approach:
1. Better fire management:
Wildfire management is necessary to control the burns. Wildfires create extreme situations by damaging lands and wildlife as well. Thus, better fire management can address it. Since land management practices can help in reducing the wildfires’ severity.
2. Monitoring and public advisory:
Public advisory as an early warning can help in maintaining the situation before getting worse. It can help with enhancing the air pollution monitoring. Air quality monitoring helps the prediction systems to provide guidelines and warnings. Hence, timely warnings about the air quality and wildfires can help vulnerable populations.
3. Public awareness:
Everyone can work on their level to increase public awareness. It includes the health risks associated with air pollution and wildfire smoke. Making them aware of the recent data on how air pollution has exacerbated the death toll. Promoting protective measures such as masks and air purifier usage can control the aftermaths of air pollution.
4. Climate Action:
Climate change actions are necessary to reduce wildfire activities. These can support reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As it helps, mitigates climate change and helps prevent wildfire activities. Since climate change is increasing global warming and temperature. It is leading to more fires during summers in forests.
Check out the Recent Data on Wildfire Impacts on Air Quality:
Canada Wildfire 2024:
Canada wildfires driven by high temperatures and dry conditions at the start of 2024 produced large amounts of smoke and other pollutants. In the aftermath, the wildfire smoke has travelled to Missouri, U.S. states.
Air Quality Index (AQI) Deterioration:
- AQI in St. Louis and other nearby areas saw a significant spike. As it reached unhealthy levels. Particulate matter PM2.5 increases during the wildfire event.
- Before Wildfires: AQI levels remained in the Good to Moderate range.
- During Wildfires: AQI levels spiked to the Unhealthy range.
- Normal PM2.5 levels ranged from 10 to 20 µg/m³.
- During the wildfire event, PM2.5 levels exceeded 35 µg/m³, peaking at over 50 µg/m³ in some locations.
Affects:
- Emergency room visits have increased in hospitals because of air pollution. Particularly affecting children and the elderly with respiratory issues.
- The dense smoke has reduced visibility in the affected areas disturbing daily activities and transportation.
Australia bushfire, February 2024
Victoria, Australia, experienced severe bushfires in starting 2024. It affected the air quality across the region and beyond the area. The area experienced severe pollution episodes because of the bushfires.
The Victoria Environment Protection Authority (EPA) monitored air quality. They found that particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels and other pollutants have increased.
The AQI in several parts of Victoria, including Melbourne, during the wildfire. It reached dangerous levels posing health risks.
India forest fires:
Recently, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand experienced intense forest fires in June 2024. High temperatures due to summer and dry conditions contributed to the fires. Hence, released smoke and particulate matter that affects the air quality across the region.
AQI levels surged to unhealthy levels during the events. It increases the PM2.5 levels in the environment.
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