Pollution from forest fires has a dangerous and often unrecognized impact on health, including in areas far from disasters.
- Forest fires can have adverse effects on air quality and health.
- Smoke indeed contains carcinogenic particles which contribute to the formation of ozone.
- Experts warn that wildfires will increase due to global warming.
A multitude of carcinogenic pollutants: this is what the ash clouds contain during a forest fire according to a study published in Science of the Total Environment.
And according to the authors, the impact on health and mortality can be significant, even hundreds of kilometers away from the blaze.
Forest fires: smoke kills prematurely
Thus, in the United States, smoke causes between 4,000 and 9,000 premature deaths each year. In addition, it leads to a multitude of health problems that go beyond lung health, such as cancers, brain tumors, heart attacks and strokes.
The culprit is a particle called PM2.5 which includes a mixture of aerosols and metals. “Its very small size (2.5 microns or less) allows it to very easily penetrate the lungs and then enter the blood.”, can we read in Futura Science which relays the study.
Fire: carcinogenic particles are released into the air
Smoke from wildfires also contains toxic gases that cause headaches, nausea and confusion, as well as benzene and methanol, chemicals known to cause cancer.
Scientists’ analyzes have also shown that it also contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, which are also carcinogenic and which, as in pollution from vehicles and industries, contribute to the creation of ozone. as explained AirParif:
“Ozone is not directly emitted into the atmosphere but is formed by chemical reaction from other pollutants, in particular nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, under the action of UV rays from the sun (. ..) In high concentrations, ozone causes respiratory problems, triggering asthma attacks, reduced lung function and the onset of respiratory diseases”.
Forest fires: they will be more frequent and more intense
This information is particularly topical as the smoke from fires in Canada affected France at the end of June, that fires break out every summer in France and that climate change increases the risk of fires.
I’UN predicts a global increase in extreme and uncontrolled fires of 50% by 2100.
