Wildfires Impact On Public Health

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Wildfires: A Look into the Impact they have on Public Health

Introduction Raging orange flames, a sky filled with billowing black smoke, and a charred landscape are just a few characteristics that many people associate with wildfires. However, there are many additional and often unseen dimensions to a wildfire. A wildfire is any uncontrolled burning of vegetation, which can be ignited several different ways allowing for a variety of distinct outcomes (Finlay et al 2012).
One aspect of the outcome that many people frequently overlook is the severe impact on public health by wildfires (Finlay et al 2012; Ward, 1999). Smoke, a natural by-product of this process, is a mixture of particulates and primary and secondary gaseous products (Bell …show more content…
However, the substance of highest concern in the smoke produced by wildfires is the particulate matter (PM), especially the fine particles due to the fact their potential to have severe effects on human health is very high (Bytnerowicz et al 2008; Finlay et al 2012; Sandberg et al 2002; Urbanski et al 2008). With smoke being composed of many gaseous substances and small PM, pollution from large wildfires can be dispersed many kilometers away from its source, affecting people both near and far from the fire (Finlay et al 2012; Fox & Riebau 2008; Goldammer et al …show more content…
2008. Chapter 7: Effects of Forest Fires on Visibility and Air Quality. Development in Environmental Science 8, 171-195.

Goldammer, JG, M Statheropoulos, and MO Andreae. 2008. Chapter 1: Impacts of Vegetation Fire Emissions on the Environment, Human Health, and Security: A Global Perspective. Development in Environmental Science 8, 3-36.

Hao, WM, OO Bondarenko, S Zibtsev, and D Hutton. 2008. Chapter 12: Vegetation Fires, Smoke Emissions and Dispersion of Radionuclides in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Development in Environmental Science 8, 265-275.

Seyenaeve, G. 2006. Exposure limits for particles. FFNet 4, 79-105.

Sandberg, DV, RD Ottmar, JL Peterson, and J Core. 2002. Wildland fire on ecosystems: effects of fire on air. Gen Tech Rep RMRS-GTR-42-vol 5. Ogden, UT: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 79 p.

Urbanski, SP, WM Hao, and S Baker. 2008. Chapter 4: Chemical Composition of Wildland Fire Emissions. Development in Environmental Science 8, 79-107.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2014. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Air and Radiation. www.epa.org. Ward, DE. 1999. Smoke from wildland fires. Health guidelines for vegetation fire events: Background papers, World Health Organization.
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