Wildfires & The Effects They Have On Our Health

By: Amelia

Deforestation is a major problem that has risen this past century and is linked to causing harsher, larger quantities of wildfires. Wildfires have been at an alltime worst because of record breaking heat and droughts. Furthermore, wildfires have begun sprouting more rapidly compared to recent years, showing the change our environment is going through.

The cause of this? The answer is simple-climate change and deforestation. Climate change has caused temperatures to increase, creating hot and dry environments. The conditions of the planet will continue to deteriorate as it has extreme negative effects on the environment and the multitude of organisms in our world. For example, wildfire smoke is extremely toxic and can spread quickly, regardless of where you may reside. The smoke may give more beauty to sunsets, however 80% of wildfire smoke is made of tiny particulate matter that is solid and liquid parts of burned material. The small particles penetrate people's lungs and can lead to respiratory illnesses. Scientists also track particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter, these are called PM2.5. These microscopic particles are more dangerous than larger ones as they can lodge themselves deep inside the body. This causes the immune system to launch an attack as it thinks that PM2.5 is a virus which creates a sustained immune system response because of regular inhalation of air pollution, which affects everything from the brain to the lungs.

Regardless of this, the science of smoke still remains quite a bit of a mystery. For example, many scientists have found traces of fungi and bacteria in the smoke, creating the question of what other forms of bacteria can quickly spread due to wildfire smoke. In addition to this, many dangerous metals such as manganese Zinc and lead have also been present in smoke. The exposure to these chemicals can be detrimental to one’s health, which is why we must do work towards preventing wildfires in order to ensure a healthier, safer future.