Wildfires Impact On Public Health

Words: 2923
Pages: 12
Open Document
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.
Show More

Related Documents: Wildfires Impact On Public Health

The City of Chula Vista Climate Change Adaptation Plan Policy Brief Essay

businesses, and community representatives, recommended 11 strategies to adapt the community to these impacts within energy and water supply, public health, wildfires, ecosystem management, coastal infrastructure, and the local economy sectors. The strategies consist of cool paving, shade trees, cool roofs, local water supply and reuse, storm water pollution and prevention and reuse, education and wildfires, extreme heat plans, open space management, wetlands preservation, sea level rise and land development…

Words 1210 - Pages 5

Emergency Operation Plan Sample

or any other emergency. The town’s EOP effectively uses interagency and multiagency collaboration for emergency response. The town has established coordinated efforts between state and regional governments for support and integration between the public and private sector for incident management. The town maintains in communication with federal agencies to assess potential threat of terrorism and implementing ways to mitigate the risk associated with such threats. Collaborative efforts with private…

Words 954 - Pages 4

Mt. Zion Essay

Geologic Formations Rockfall on Switchbacks NPS/Mike Large Zion National Park is located along the edge of a region known as the Colorado Plateau. The rock layers have been uplifted, tilted, and eroded, forming a feature called the Grand Staircase, a series of colorful cliffs stretching between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. The bottom layer of rock at Bryce Canyon is the top layer at Zion, and the bottom layer at Zion is the top layer at the Grand Canyon. Sedimentation Zion was a relatively…

Words 3179 - Pages 13

Essay about Health Care : Cdc and Prevention

medicine is to identify health conditions that can affect a patient's health in the future. One agency that focuses on preventative measures in the health care arena is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Description and Structure of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was founded in 1946 (www.cdc.gov, n.d.). The CDC is one of the thirteen agencies that operates under the Department of Health and Human Services which…

Words 2098 - Pages 9

Natural Gas and Baudler Air Pollution Essay

chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm to people or damage to the environment. It can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets or gases. Air pollution could come from natural sources, such as volcanoes, wildfires and dust storms, but most of it comes from industrial plants, power plants and vehicles. The exhaust from these sources contains nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates that are all considered contaminates…

Words 757 - Pages 4

Prisoners with Special Needs Essay

May 30, 2016 Sherri Webster Special needs, mentally ill, and substance-abusing prisoners affect the jail and prison systems at a state and federal level in a multitude of ways. One of the main issues within prisons is the fact that their mental health services can be seriously inadequate and lacking the proper staffing, all while operating in facilities that are not equipped to handle such prisoners, on top of a limited amount of programs to even help these prisoners with their problems. If these…

Words 1102 - Pages 5

E8 Final Completed Essay

raised to my attention is if my world is sustainable. Day by day, we become closer to reaching a point of breaking, a limit to our resources and needs that we seem to overexploit and take advantage of for our own greedy needs. We are aware of the impact we are making on our life support, and thankfully efforts are being made to reverse or even bring a halt the harm that we have caused. However, it is just not quick enough. I continue to wonder if my children will be as lucky as I am to know there…

Words 1700 - Pages 7

Research Paper On Community Health

Community Health Nursing Assessment Western Governors University Community Health Nursing Assessment A1. Community Description Hernando County is located in west central Florida. The county was officially established on February 27, 1843. It was created from portions of Alachua, Hillsborough and Orange Counties and centered between Citrus County to the north and Pasco County to the south. Its county seat is Brooksville…

Words 2518 - Pages 11

Global Warming Essay examples

…4 Global Emissions by Gas………………………………………………..……5 Global Emissions by Source……………………………………………….....5 Emissions by Country………………………………………………...………6 The Consequences of Global Warming………………………………………7 Weather Patterns …………………………………………………………….7 Health…………………………………………………………………………8 Wildlife.………………………………………………………………………8 Glaciers and Sea-levels……………………………………………………….9 Solutions and Recommendations……………………………………………..10 Works Cited……………………………………………………………………….11 Introduction and Overview…

Words 2834 - Pages 12

GMO's Essay

Genetically Modified foods held a lot of promise to efficiently and affordably feed households around the nation for a fraction of the cost as GMO-free foods. Many years later when the initial excitement died down, environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against these GM-foods. Questions have been raised as to the harmful effects of these non-traditional breeding methods for food. We as the consumers have every right to information on what exactly is in…

Words 3436 - Pages 14