Intense Air Quality Catastrophe Unfolding
In a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers have found that air pollution from wildfires in the American West is worsening and poses significant health risks. The study highlights the simultaneous exposure to particulate matter and ozone, a dangerous combination that has become more common over the last two decades as summertime wildfires have intensified across the region.
The worsening air quality exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this risk is heightened as smoke inhalation can worsen lung inflammation and impair immune response, potentially increasing susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infections.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), pollutants, and aeroallergens that worsen lung health issues such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Even healthy individuals experience short- and long-term effects including eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, headaches, and tiredness. Vulnerable groups, such as older adults, children, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung diseases, face higher risks from both smoke exposure and COVID-19 complications.
Public health experts recommend monitoring local Air Quality Index (AQI) data to reduce smoke exposure by limiting outdoor activities during wildfire events. Continuous wildfire seasons driven by climate change imply repeated challenges to lung health and COVID-19 outcomes, underscoring the need for coordinated strategies to protect air quality and vulnerable populations.
The Marshall Fire, Colorado's most destructive wildfire to date, occurred at the end of December 2021. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The fire, fuelled by hurricane-force winds and unusually dry conditions for the season, resulted in at least one death and the destruction of over 1,000 homes. Snow that followed the destruction of the Marshall Fire helped to put the fire out.
The smoke from wildfires can make it difficult for people to breathe, especially those with chronic diseases like asthma or COPD, as seen in the case of Hyapatia Lee, a Colorado resident with asthma and COPD.
Anthony Gerber, a Colorado-based pulmonologist and professor of medicine at National Jewish Health, has expressed concern about the exposure firefighters experience during wildfires. Exposure to both particulate matter and ozone may cause lower birth weight among newborns, according to the research that exists.
If elected officials fail to act, the fires and smoke will not only continue; they'll grow more dangerous and deadly, and the deaths and disease that follow will be on those who failed to act. Policymakers can end the production and consumption of fossil fuels and take tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the fires and smoke from growing more dangerous and deadly.
Dmitri Kalashnikov, a doctoral student at the Washington State University Vancouver, is the lead author of the paper that assesses the co-occurrence of these two pollutants across the entire western U.S. The study looked at the impact of particulate matter and ozone, a dangerous combination that's becoming more likely under prolonged wildfire seasons and warmer temperatures.
As wildfire seasons become longer and more intense, it is crucial for policymakers and the public to take action to protect health and reduce the risks associated with wildfire smoke and air pollution.
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