Persisting Peril: An Enduring Threat Unveiled in Latest Study
UC San Diego, home to renowned atmospheric chemist Kim Prather, is at the forefront of studying the public health threat and climate implications of urban fires. Prather's research, focusing on aerosol chemistry, air pollution, and climate impacts of fires, has shed light on the significant contributions of urban fires to air pollution.
Health Risks of Urban Fires
Urban fires release large amounts of particulate matter, ozone precursors, and toxic gases. These pollutants can adversely affect human health, causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Increased respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, cardiovascular impacts due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and elevated exposure to toxic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ozone are some key health effects associated with urban fires.
Climate Implications of Urban Fires
Emissions from urban fires add to greenhouse gases and aerosols, influencing regional and global climate. Smoke aerosols can alter cloud formation and atmospheric heating, affecting weather patterns. Fire-sourced ozone pollution can impact crop yields and overall biosphere health under future climate scenarios.
The Role of ATOFMS in Wildfire Research
During the 2021 wildfires, the Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) was employed to collect real-time measurements on the number, size, and chemical composition of particulates. This instrument provided valuable insights into the types and sources of particles that exceeded California and federal standards for air quality.
Public Health Threat and Climate Impact of Urban Fires
By examining data on particulates in the air and comparing it to hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular problems, researchers aim to learn about the public health threat of urban fires. As particles age in the atmosphere, they can become more toxic, according to Prather. Urban fires emit particulates from natural and synthetic sources, some of which are known carcinogens.
Predicting Wildfire Emissions
Jens Mühle, a colleague of Prather's at Scripps, predicts that this year's wildfires will significantly contribute to California's yearly greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the 2003 fires. Researcher V. Ramanathan in India found that prolonged high levels of pollution can lead to drought conditions due to particles not growing large enough to combine with atmospheric moisture and form raindrops.
Future Research Directions
Scripps graduate students Chris Dupont and Drew Lucas are collecting surface water samples and hydrographic data off the San Diego coast after the fires, which will be analyzed to characterize the chemical content of particles deposited by the blazes into the coastal ocean. The collected data from the 2021 wildfires, observed from the ground, at sea, and from space, is being analyzed by Scripps researchers to better understand the complex interactions in atmospheric processes and ecological impacts.
In summary, urban fires, as studied by Kim Prather and UC San Diego researchers, present significant public health risks and contribute to climate forcing via the emission of pollutants and aerosols. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing research into fire-sourced ozone pollution’s heterogeneous impacts on crops and aerosols’ radiative forcing uncertainties.
- The significant contributions of urban fires to air pollution, as studied by Kim Prather at UC San Diego, have exposed potential hazards to human health, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems caused by emissions of particulate matter, ozone precursors, and toxic gases.
- In addition to occurring locally in urban areas, urban fires can have global implications, as their emissions contribute to greenhouse gases and aerosols, influencing regional and global climate. This can lead to changes in weather patterns, reduced crop yields, and modifications to overall biosphere health under future climate scenarios.
- The research conducted by scientists, such as Prather and her colleagues, in the fields of atmospheric chemistry, science, environmental science, and health and wellness, is essential for addressing the challenges posed by urban fires and the needs for improved air quality, public health, and climate resilience.
