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Cedeño Laurent JG, Parhizkar H, Calderon L, Lizonova D, Tsiodra I, Mihalopoulos N, Kavouras I, Alam M, Baalousha M, Bazina L, Kelesidis GA, Demokritou P. Physicochemical Characterization of the Particulate Matter in New Jersey/New York City Area, Resulting from the Canadian Quebec Wildfires in June 2023. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:14753-14763. [PMID: 38984996 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The global increase in wildfires, primarily driven by climate change, significantly affects air quality and health. Wildfire-emitted particulate matter (WFPM) is linked to adverse health effects, yet the toxicological mechanisms are not fully understood given its physicochemical complexity and the lack of spatiotemporal exposure data. This study focuses on the physicochemical characterization of WFPM from a Canadian wildfire in June 2023, which affected over 100 million people in the US Northeast, particularly around New Jersey/New York. Aerosol systems were deployed to characterize WFPM during the 3 day event, revealing unprecedented mass concentrations mainly in the WFPM0.1 and WFPM0.1-2.5 size fractions. Peak WFPM2.5 concentrations reached 317 μg/m3, nearly 10 times the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 24 h average limit. Chemical analysis showed a high organic-to-total carbon ratio (96%), consistent with brown carbon wildfires nanoparticles. Large concentrations of high-molecular-weight PAHs were found predominantly bound to WFPM0.1, with retene, a molecular marker of biomass burning and a known teratogen, being the most abundant (>70%). Computational modeling estimated a total lung deposition of 9.15 mg over 72 h, highlighting the health risks of WFPM, particularly due to its long-distance travel capability and impact on densely populated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Guillermo Cedeño Laurent
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Hooman Parhizkar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Leonardo Calderon
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Denisa Lizonova
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Irini Tsiodra
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Koufou, Palea Penteli, Athens 15236, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Mihalopoulos
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Koufou, Palea Penteli, Athens 15236, Greece
- Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Ilias Kavouras
- Department of Environmental, Occupational and Geospatial Health Sciences, School of Public Health, City University of New York, New York, New York 10018, United States
| | - Mahbub Alam
- Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Mohammed Baalousha
- Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Lila Bazina
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Georgios A Kelesidis
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Philip Demokritou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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Holder AL, Sullivan AP. Emissions, Chemistry, and the Environmental Impacts of Wildland Fire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39133033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
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3
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Pálešová N, Řiháčková K, Kuta J, Pindur A, Šebejová L, Čupr P. Internal Flames: Metal(loid) Exposure Linked to Alteration of the Lipid Profile in Czech Male Firefighters (CELSPAC-FIREexpo Study). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2024; 11:679-686. [PMID: 39006815 PMCID: PMC11238583 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Increased wildfire activity increases the demands on fire rescue services and firefighters' contact with harmful chemicals. This study aimed to determine firefighters' exposure to toxic metal(loid)s and its association with the lipid profile. CELSPAC-FIREexpo study participants (including 110 firefighters) provided urine and blood samples to quantify urinary levels of metal(loid)s (arsenic, cadmium (Cd), mercury, and lead (Pb)), and serum lipid biomarkers (cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides (TG)). The associations were investigated by using multiple linear regression and Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) regression. Higher levels of Pb were observed in firefighters. Pb was positively associated with CHOL and TG. Cd was negatively associated with HDL. In the BWQS model, the mixture of metal(loid)s was associated positively with CHOL (β = 14.75, 95% CrI = 2.45-29.08), LDL (β = 15.14, 95% CrI = 3.39-29.35), and TG (β = 14.79, 95% CrI = 0.73-30.42), while negatively with HDL (β = -14.96, 95% CrI = -25.78 to -1.8). Pb emerged as a key component in a metal(loid) mixture. The results suggest that higher exposure to lead and the mixture of metal(loid)s is associated with the alteration of the lipid profile, which can result in an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile, especially in occupationally exposed firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Pálešová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Řiháčková
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kuta
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Pindur
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Training Centre of Fire Rescue Service, Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, Ministry of the Interior, Trnkova 85, 628 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludmila Šebejová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Čupr
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Averett N. After the Smoke Clears: Wildland-Urban Interface Fires and Residues in Nearby Homes. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:72001. [PMID: 39046916 PMCID: PMC11268558 DOI: 10.1289/ehp14770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Scientists are scrambling to fill major research gaps about the types of pollutants released when wildfires burn not just vegetation, but also structures and vehicles-and how nearby residents can protect themselves.
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Farruggia MJ, Brahney J, Tanentzap AJ, Brentrup JA, Brighenti LS, Chandra S, Cortés A, Fernandez RL, Fischer JM, Forrest AL, Jin Y, Larrieu K, McCullough IM, Oleksy IA, Pilla RM, Rusak JA, Scordo F, Smits AP, Symons CC, Tang M, Woodman SG, Sadro S. Wildfire smoke impacts lake ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17367. [PMID: 38840430 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Wildfire activity is increasing globally. The resulting smoke plumes can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers, reflecting or scattering sunlight and depositing particles within ecosystems. Several key physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes are controlled by factors affected by smoke. The spatial and temporal scales of lake exposure to smoke are extensive and under-recognized. We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 to 2021. Because smoke can be transported at continental to intercontinental scales, even regions that may not typically experience direct burning of landscapes by wildfire are at risk of smoke exposure. We found that 99.3% of North America was covered by smoke, affecting a total of 1,333,687 lakes ≥10 ha. An incredible 98.9% of lakes experienced at least 10 smoke-days a year, with 89.6% of lakes receiving over 30 lake smoke-days, and lakes in some regions experiencing up to 4 months of cumulative smoke-days. Herein we review the mechanisms through which smoke and ash can affect lakes by altering the amount and spectral composition of incoming solar radiation and depositing carbon, nutrients, or toxic compounds that could alter chemical conditions and impact biota. We develop a conceptual framework that synthesizes known and theoretical impacts of smoke on lakes to guide future research. Finally, we identify emerging research priorities that can help us better understand how lakes will be affected by smoke as wildfire activity increases due to climate change and other anthropogenic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Jade Farruggia
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Janice Brahney
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Andrew J Tanentzap
- Ecosystems and Global Change Group, School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ludmila S Brighenti
- Universidade Do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Unidade Divinópolis, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sudeep Chandra
- Department of Biology and Global Water Center, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Alicia Cortés
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rocio L Fernandez
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Janet M Fischer
- Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alexander L Forrest
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering/Tahoe Environmental Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Yufang Jin
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kenneth Larrieu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering/Tahoe Environmental Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Ian M McCullough
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Isabella A Oleksy
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Rachel M Pilla
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - James A Rusak
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Facundo Scordo
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Geografía y Turismo, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrianne P Smits
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Celia C Symons
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Minmeng Tang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Samuel G Woodman
- Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Steven Sadro
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
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Stickler A, Hawkey AB, Gondal A, Natarajan S, Mead M, Levin ED. Embryonic exposures to cadmium and PAHs cause long-term and interacting neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2024; 102:107339. [PMID: 38452988 PMCID: PMC10990771 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Developmental exposure to either polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heavy metals has been shown to cause persisting and overlapping neurobehavioral effects in animal models. However, interactions between these compounds have not been well characterized, despite their co-occurrence in a variety of environmental media. In two companion studies, we examined the effects of developmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) with or without co-exposure to prototypic PAHs benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, Exp. 1) or fluoranthene (FA, Exp. 2) using a developing zebrafish model. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to Cd (0-0.3 μM), BaP (0-3 μM), FA (0-1.0 μM), or binary Cd-PAH mixtures from 5 to 122 h post fertilization (hpf). In Exp. 1, Cd and BaP produced independent effects on an array of outcomes and interacting effects on specific outcomes. Notably, Cd-induced deficits in dark-induced locomotor stimulation were attenuated by BaP co-exposure in the larval motility test and BaP-induced hyperactivity was attenuated by Cd co-exposure in the adolescent novel tank test. Likewise, in Exp. 2, Cd and FA produced both independent and interacting effects. FA-induced increases on adult post-tap activity in the tap startle test were attenuated by co-exposure with Cd. On the predator avoidance test, FA- and 0.3 μM Cd-induced hyperactivity effects were attenuated by their co-exposure. Taken together, these data indicate that while the effects of Cd and these representative PAHs on zebrafish behavior were largely independent of one another, binary mixtures can produce sub-additive effects for some neurobehavioral outcomes and at certain ages. This research emphasizes the need for detailed risk assessments of mixtures containing contaminants of differing classes, and for clarity on the mechanisms which allow cross-class toxicant interactions to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Stickler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Andrew B Hawkey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
| | - Anas Gondal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sarabesh Natarajan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mikayla Mead
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Edward D Levin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Rice RB, Boaggio K, Olson NE, Foley KM, Weaver CP, Sacks JD, McDow SR, Holder AL, LeDuc SD. Wildfires Increase Concentrations of Hazardous Air Pollutants in Downwind Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21235-21248. [PMID: 38051783 PMCID: PMC10862657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Due in part to climate change, wildfire activity is increasing, with the potential for greater public health impact from smoke in downwind communities. Studies examining the health effects of wildfire smoke have focused primarily on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), but there is a need to better characterize other constituents, such as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). HAPs are chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects that are regulated by the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency. Here, we analyzed concentrations of 21 HAPs in wildfire smoke from 2006 to 2020 at 309 monitors across the western US. Additionally, we examined HAP concentrations measured in a major population center (San Jose, CA) affected by multiple fires from 2017 to 2020. We found that concentrations of select HAPs, namely acetaldehyde, acrolein, chloroform, formaldehyde, manganese, and tetrachloroethylene, were all significantly elevated on smoke-impacted versus nonsmoke days (P < 0.05). The largest median increase on smoke-impacted days was observed for formaldehyde, 1.3 μg/m3 (43%) higher than that on nonsmoke days. Acetaldehyde increased 0.73 μg/m3 (36%), and acrolein increased 0.14 μg/m3 (34%). By better characterizing these chemicals in wildfire smoke, we anticipate that this research will aid efforts to reduce exposures in downwind communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Byron Rice
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Katie Boaggio
- US EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Nicole E Olson
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kristen M Foley
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Christopher P Weaver
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jason D Sacks
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Stephen R McDow
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Amara L Holder
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Stephen D LeDuc
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
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Wen J, Heft-Neal S, Baylis P, Boomhower J, Burke M. Quantifying fire-specific smoke exposure and health impacts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309325120. [PMID: 38085772 PMCID: PMC10743475 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309325120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapidly changing wildfire regimes across the Western United States have driven more frequent and severe wildfires, resulting in wide-ranging societal threats from wildfires and wildfire-generated smoke. However, common measures of fire severity focus on what is burned, disregarding the societal impacts of smoke generated from each fire. We combine satellite-derived fire scars, air parcel trajectories from individual fires, and predicted smoke PM2.5 to link source fires to resulting smoke PM2.5 and health impacts experienced by populations in the contiguous United States from April 2006 to 2020. We quantify fire-specific accumulated smoke exposure based on the cumulative population exposed to smoke PM2.5 over the duration of a fire and estimate excess asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits as a result of this exposure. We find that excess asthma visits attributable to each fire are only moderately correlated with common measures of wildfire severity, including burned area, structures destroyed, and suppression cost. Additionally, while recent California fires contributed nearly half of the country's smoke-related excess asthma ED visits during our study period, the most severe individual fire was the 2007 Bugaboo fire in the Southeast. We estimate that a majority of smoke PM2.5 comes from sources outside the local jurisdictions where the smoke is experienced, with 87% coming from fires in other counties and 60% from fires in other states. Our approach could enable broad-scale assessment of whether specific fire characteristics affect smoke toxicity or impact, inform cost-effectiveness assessments for allocation of suppression resources, and help clarify the growing transboundary nature of local air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Wen
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Sam Heft-Neal
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Patrick Baylis
- Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Judson Boomhower
- Department of Economics, University of California, San Diego, CA92093
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Marshall Burke
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA02138
- Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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Lopez AM, Pacheco JL, Fendorf S. Metal toxin threat in wildland fires determined by geology and fire severity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8007. [PMID: 38086795 PMCID: PMC10716285 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43101-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Accentuated by climate change, catastrophic wildfires are a growing, distributed global public health risk from inhalation of smoke and dust. Underrecognized, however, are the health threats arising from fire-altered toxic metals natural to soils and plants. Here, we demonstrate that high temperatures during California wildfires catalyzed widespread transformation of chromium to its carcinogenic form in soil and ash, as hexavalent chromium, particularly in areas with metal-rich geologies (e.g., serpentinite). In wildfire ash, we observed dangerous levels (327-13,100 µg kg-1) of reactive hexavalent chromium in wind-dispersible particulates. Relatively dry post-fire weather contributed to the persistence of elevated hexavalent chromium in surficial soil layers for up to ten months post-fire. The geographic distribution of metal-rich soils and fire incidents illustrate the broad global threat of wildfire smoke- and dust-born metals to populations. Our findings provide new insights into why wildfire smoke exposure appears to be more hazardous to humans than pollution from other sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alandra Marie Lopez
- Earth System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Juan Lezama Pacheco
- Earth System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Scott Fendorf
- Earth System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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Holder AL, Rao V, Kovalcik K, Virtaranta L. Particulate Pb emission factors from wildland fires in the United States. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT: X 2023; 20:1-8. [PMID: 38269205 PMCID: PMC10805233 DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2023.100229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Wildland fires, which includes both wild and prescribed fires, and agricultural fires in sum are one of the largest sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions to the atmosphere in the United States (US). Although wildland fire PM2.5 emissions are primarily composed of carbonaceous material, many other elements including trace metals are emitted at very low levels. Lead (Pb) is a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria pollutant that is ubiquitous in the environment at very low concentrations including in biomass that can burn and emit Pb into the atmosphere. Although fires may emit Pb at very low concentrations, they can be a source of sizeable Pb emissions to the atmosphere because of the large quantity of PM2.5 emitted from fires. In this work, we measure Pb concentrations in unburned biomass, ash/residues, and particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) emitted from wildland fires using in-field measurements near prescribed fires and in laboratory simulations. Emission factors were calculated for multiple biomass types, representative of different regions of the US including grasslands in Oregon and Kansas; forest litter from Oregon, Montana, Minnesota, and North Carolina; and peat cores from Minnesota. Most of the biomass Pb remains in the ash/residues. The small percentage (<10%) that is emitted in PM2.5 is dependent on the biomass Pb concentration. The emissions factors measured here are several orders of magnitude lower than some reported in the literature, but the studies exhibited a wide range of values, which may be due to large uncertainties in the measurement method rather than differences in Pb emissions. Wildland fires are expected to increase in size and frequency in future years and these new emission factors can be used to improve the accuracy of Pb emissions estimates and better constrain our understanding of Pb emissions to the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amara L. Holder
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T. W. Alexander Dr., Durham, NC 27709
| | - Venkatesh Rao
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, 109 T. W. Alexander Dr., Durham, NC 27709
| | - Kasey Kovalcik
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T. W. Alexander Dr., Durham, NC 27709
| | - Larry Virtaranta
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T. W. Alexander Dr., Durham, NC 27709
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11
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Chen AI, Ebisu K, Benmarhnia T, Basu R. Emergency department visits associated with wildfire smoke events in California, 2016-2019. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117154. [PMID: 37716386 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire smoke has been associated with adverse respiratory outcomes, but the impacts of wildfire on other health outcomes and sensitive subpopulations are not fully understood. We examined associations between smoke events and emergency department visits (EDVs) for respiratory, cardiovascular, diabetes, and mental health outcomes in California during the wildfire season June-December 2016-2019. Daily, zip code tabulation area-level wildfire-specific fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations were aggregated to air basins. A "smoke event" was defined as an air basin-day with a wildfire-specific PM2.5 concentration at or above the 98th percentile across all air basin-days (threshold = 13.5 μg/m3). We conducted a two-stage time-series analysis using quasi-Poisson regression considering lag effects and random effects meta-analysis. We also conducted analyses stratified by race/ethnicity, age, and sex to assess potential effect modification. Smoke events were associated with an increased risk of EDVs for all respiratory diseases at lag 1 [14.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI): (6.8, 22.5)], asthma at lag 0 [57.1% (44.5, 70.8)], and chronic lower respiratory disease at lag 0 [12.7% (6.2, 19.6)]. We also found positive associations with EDVs for all cardiovascular diseases at lag 10. Mixed results were observed for mental health outcomes. Stratified results revealed potential disparities by race/ethnicity. Short-term exposure to smoke events was associated with increased respiratory and schizophrenia EDVs. Cardiovascular impacts may be delayed compared to respiratory outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie I Chen
- Air and Climate Epidemiology Section, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Keita Ebisu
- Air and Climate Epidemiology Section, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rupa Basu
- Air and Climate Epidemiology Section, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA, USA.
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12
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Basilio E, Zlatnik MG. Extreme weather-Wildfires & pregnancy. Semin Perinatol 2023; 47:151839. [PMID: 37863677 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
As described in the previous chapter, Chapter 4: Air pollution and pregnancy, there is robust literature on the adverse health impacts of ambient air pollution on perinatal outcomes. With climate change contributing to more extreme weather patterns, wildfire events are becoming more intense and frequent. Wildfire smoke is a major contributor to poor air quality and data are beginning to emerge with respect to the negative impact on perinatal outcomes. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the current literature on wildfire smoke exposure in pregnancy and associated adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Basilio
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco
| | - Marya G Zlatnik
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, UCSF, University of California San Francisco.
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13
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Paul MJ, LeDuc SD, Boaggio K, Herrick JD, Kaylor SD, Lassiter MG, Nolte CG, Rice RB. Effects of Air Pollutants from Wildfires on Downwind Ecosystems: Observations, Knowledge Gaps, and Questions for Assessing Risk. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14787-14796. [PMID: 37769297 PMCID: PMC11345788 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires have increased in frequency and area burned, trends expected to continue with climate change. Among other effects, fires release pollutants into the atmosphere, representing a risk to human health and downwind terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. While human health risks are well studied, the ecological impacts to downwind ecosystems are not, and this gap may present a constraint on developing an adequate assessment of the ecological risks associated with downwind wildfire exposure. Here, we first screened the scientific literature to assess general knowledge about pathways and end points of a conceptual model linking wildfire generated pollutants and other materials to downwind ecosystems. We found a substantial body of literature on the composition of wildfire derived pollution and materials in the atmosphere and subsequent transport, yet little observational or experimental work on their effects on downwind ecological end points. This dearth of information raises many questions related to adequately assessing the ecological risk of downwind exposure, especially given increasing wildfire trends. To guide future research, we pose eight questions within the well-established US EPA ecological risk assessment paradigm that if answered would greatly improve ecological risk assessment and, ultimately, management strategies needed to reduce potential wildfire impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Paul
- Tetra Tech Inc., PO Box 14409, Durham, NC 27709 USA
- Current address: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 1301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20460 USA
| | - Stephen D. LeDuc
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - Katie Boaggio
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Herrick
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - S. Douglas Kaylor
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - Meredith G. Lassiter
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - Christopher G. Nolte
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
| | - R. Byron Rice
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
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14
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Olson NE, Boaggio KL, Rice RB, Foley KM, LeDuc SD. Wildfires in the western United States are mobilizing PM 2.5-associated nutrients and may be contributing to downwind cyanobacteria blooms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1049-1066. [PMID: 37232758 PMCID: PMC10585592 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00042g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire activity is increasing in the continental U.S. and can be linked to climate change effects, including rising temperatures and more frequent drought conditions. Wildfire emissions and large fire frequency have increased in the western U.S., impacting human health and ecosystems. We linked 15 years (2006-2020) of particulate matter (PM2.5) chemical speciation data with smoke plume analysis to identify PM2.5-associated nutrients elevated in air samples on smoke-impacted days. Most macro- and micro-nutrients analyzed (phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, silicon, aluminum, iron, manganese, and magnesium) were significantly elevated on smoke days across all years analyzed. The largest percent increase was observed for phosphorus. With the exception of ammonium, all other nutrients (nitrate, copper, and zinc), although not statistically significant, had higher median values across all years on smoke vs. non-smoke days. Not surprisingly, there was high variation between smoke impacted days, with some nutrients episodically elevated >10 000% during select fire events. Beyond nutrients, we also explored instances where algal blooms occurred in multiple lakes downwind from high-nutrient fires. In these cases, remotely sensed cyanobacteria indices in downwind lakes increased two to seven days following the occurrence of wildfire smoke above the lake. This suggests that elevated nutrients in wildfire smoke may contribute to downwind algal blooms. Since cyanobacteria blooms can be associated with the production of cyanotoxins and wildfire activity is increasing due to climate change, this finding has implications for drinking water reservoirs in the western United States, and for lake ecology, particularly alpine lakes with otherwise limited nutrient inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Olson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Katie L Boaggio
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - R Byron Rice
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Kristen M Foley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Stephen D LeDuc
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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15
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Holder AL, Ahmed A, Vukovich JM, Rao V. Hazardous air pollutant emissions estimates from wildfires in the wildland urban interface. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad186. [PMID: 37346272 PMCID: PMC10281377 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Fires that occur in the wildland urban interface (WUI) often burn structures, vehicles, and their contents in addition to biomass in the natural landscape. Because these fires burn near population centers, their emissions may have a sizeable impact on public health, necessitating a better understanding of criteria and hazardous air pollutants emitted from these fires and how they differ from wildland fires. Previous studies on the toxicity of emissions from the combustion of building materials and vehicles have shown that urban fires may emit numerous toxic species such as hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, isocyanates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans, and a range of toxic organic compounds (e.g. benzene toluene, xylenes, styrene, and formaldehyde) and metals (e.g. lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic). We surveyed the literature to create a compendium of emission factors for species emitted from the combustion of building and vehicle materials and compared them with those from wildland fires. Emission factors for some toxic species like PAH and some organic compounds were several orders of magnitude greater than those from wildfires. We used this emission factor compendium to calculate a bounding estimate of the emissions from several notable WUI fires in the western United States to show that urban fuels may contribute a sizeable portion of the toxic emissions into the atmosphere. However, large gaps remain in our understanding of the fuel composition, fuel consumption, and combustion conditions in WUI fires that constrain our ability to estimate the impact of WUI fires.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aranya Ahmed
- Present address: Catalent Pharmaceutical Solutions, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Vukovich
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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