Wildfires kill long after the flames have gone
Jane Burston of the Clean Air Fund highlights the long-term health dangers of black carbon emissions resulting from wildfires. She argues that better fire prevention and stricter regulation of super-pollutants are necessary to break the cycle of climate-driven health crises.
Why it matters
Wildfires are increasingly recognized as a major public health threat due to air pollution, necessitating integrated forest and air-quality management.
The charred remains of a parked car following wildfires in the Almeria region of Spain. The charred remains of a parked car following wildfires in the Almeria region of Spain. Wildfires Letters Wildfires kill long after the flames have gone As deadly blazes sweep across Europe, Jane Burston warns of the longer-term dangers of black carbon
The wildfires sweeping across Europe are damaging precious habitats, destroying property and taking people’s lives ( Fast-spreading wildfire kills at least 12 in southern Spain, 10 July ), yet they are even more devastating to human health once the flames have died down because of the huge amount of air pollution they generate.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in