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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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2
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Luong HA, Rohlfs AM, Facey JA, Colville A, Mitrovic SM. Long-term study of phytoplankton dynamics in a supply reservoir reveals signs of trophic state shift linked to changes in hydrodynamics associated with flow management and extreme events. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121547. [PMID: 38583334 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121547] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
This study analyses over a decade (2009-2022) of monitoring data to understand the impact of hydrological characteristics on water quality and phytoplankton dynamics in Prospect Reservoir, a critical water supply for Greater Sydney, Australia, known for its excellent water quality. Water quality and phytoplankton dynamics were related to hydrodynamics, linked to flow management and the water quality of inflows. Phytoplankton biovolume increased after a prolonged drawdown and subsequent refill event, mainly driven by dinoflagellates, and corresponded to increases in total phosphorus and water temperature. The hydrological period following the 2019/2020 summer bushfires (post-bushfire) that impacted connected reservoirs, was marked by increased flow activity and nutrient loading, leading to significant shifts in the phytoplankton community. Functional group classification and ordination analysis indicated a transition from taxa typically dominant in oligotrophic conditions to meso‑eutrophic. This transition correlated with elevated nutrient levels and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and reduced Secchi depth and dissolved oxygen, providing evidence of eutrophication. Q index indicated good water quality post-bushfire, contrasting with a eutrophic status assessment using Chl-a. Our findings highlight the importance of analysing long-term datasets encompassing varied hydroclimatological conditions for a deeper understanding of reservoir behaviour. A comprehensive approach to water quality assessment is recommended, combining functional group classification, Q index and Chl-a measurements for effective reservoir health assessment. This research provides novel insights into the effects of disturbances such as bushfires, on water quality and phytoplankton dynamics in an underrepresented geographic region, offering valuable knowledge for managing water resources amidst growing climate variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy A Luong
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | | | - Jordan A Facey
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Anne Colville
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Simon M Mitrovic
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
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3
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Rafie SAA, Blentlinger LR, Putt AD, Williams DE, Joyner DC, Campa MF, Schubert MJ, Hoyt KP, Horn SP, Franklin JA, Hazen TC. Impact of prescribed fire on soil microbial communities in a Southern Appalachian Forest clear-cut. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1322151. [PMID: 38741734 PMCID: PMC11090169 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1322151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Escalating wildfire frequency and severity, exacerbated by shifting climate patterns, pose significant ecological and economic challenges. Prescribed burns, a common forest management tool, aim to mitigate wildfire risks and protect biodiversity. Nevertheless, understanding the impact of prescribed burns on soil and microbial communities in temperate mixed forests, considering temporal dynamics and slash fuel types, remains crucial. Our study, conducted at the University of Tennessee Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center in Oak Ridge, TN, employed controlled burns across various treatments, and the findings indicate that low-intensity prescribed burns have none or minimal short-term effects on soil parameters but may alter soil nutrient concentrations, as evidenced by significant changes in porewater acetate, formate, and nitrate concentrations. These burns also induce shifts in microbial community structure and diversity, with Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria increasing significantly post-fire, possibly aiding soil recovery. In contrast, Verrucomicrobia showed a notable decrease over time, and other specific microbial taxa correlated with soil pH, porewater nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate concentrations. Our research contributes to understanding the intricate relationships between prescribed fire, soil dynamics, and microbial responses in temperate mixed forests in the Southern Appalachian Region, which is valuable for informed land management practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. A. A. Rafie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - L. R. Blentlinger
- Department of Geography, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - A. D. Putt
- Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - D. E. Williams
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - D. C. Joyner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - M. F. Campa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Bredesen Center—Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - M. J. Schubert
- Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - K. P. Hoyt
- Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - S. P. Horn
- Department of Geography, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - J. A. Franklin
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - T. C. Hazen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Bredesen Center—Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
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4
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Raoelison OD, Das TK, Guyett K, Merrifield R, Visweswaran A, Indiresan S, Lin Yang K, Pierce G, Mohanty SK. Resilience of stormwater biofilters following the deposition of wildfire residues: Implication on downstream water quality management in wildfire-prone regions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:132989. [PMID: 38000283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132989] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Stormwater treatment systems such as biofilters could intercept and remove pollutants from contaminated runoff in wildfire-affected areas, ensuring the protection of water quality downstream. However, the deposition of wildfire residues such as ash and black carbon onto biofilters could potentially impair their stormwater treatment functions. Yet, whether and how wildfire residue deposition could affect biofilter functions is unknown. This study examines the impact of wildfire residue deposition on biofilter infiltration and pollutant removal capacities. Exposure to wildfire residues decreased the infiltration capacity based on the amount of wildfire deposited. Wildfire residues accumulated at the top layer of the biofilter, forming a cake layer, but scraping this layer restored the infiltration capacity. While the deposition of wildfire residues slightly changed the pore water geochemistry, it did not significantly alter the removal of metals and E. coli. Although wildfire residues leached some metals into pore water within the simulated root zone, the leached metals were effectively removed by the compost present in the filter media. Collectively, these results indicate that biofilters downstream of wildfire-prone areas could remain resilient or functional and protect downstream water quality if deposited ash is periodically scraped to restore any loss of infiltration capacity following wildfire residue deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onja D Raoelison
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
| | - Tonoy K Das
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Keegan Guyett
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Rachel Merrifield
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Ananya Visweswaran
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Shruti Indiresan
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Kevin Lin Yang
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Gregory Pierce
- Luskin Center for Innovation, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sanjay K Mohanty
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
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5
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Nitzsche N, Nunes JP, Parente J. Assessing post-fire water quality changes in reservoirs: Insights from a large dataset in Portugal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169463. [PMID: 38141993 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires in the Mediterranean basin, especially in Portugal, have increased in extent and frequency over the last few years. One of the impacts of wildfires on humans and ecosystems is on the water quality of surface waters. Ashes and increased erosion rates might, for example, change oxygen levels and elevate the influx of sediments, nutrients, or other water quality-related components like metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), possibly affecting water supply. In this study, time series of eight water quality parameters: biological- and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD), electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorous (TP), nitrate (NO3-), total suspended sediments (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH, were assessed via changepoint analysis to identify events of post-fire water contamination in over 60 Portuguese reservoirs. Further, possible fire, watershed, reservoir, and climate-related drivers were linked with the occurrence of these contamination events through logistic regression using generalized additive models. All measured parameters exhibited post-fire changes, with some being more frequently affected than others. The concentrations of TP, NO3-, and TSS showed a noticeable increase following 9.6 %, 12.6 %, and 13.6 % of all wildfires, respectively. Most changes fell into the unusually large fire seasons of 2003-2005 and 2017. The most significant impacts could be seen in southern reservoirs after the fire seasons of 2003-2005. The burned area ratio of the watershed was identified as the main driver of post-fire water contamination, while reservoir and climate-related characteristics like water levels also played a significant role in some parameters. Increased levels of suspended sediments were identified as a potential threat to water supply, especially when large wildfires coincide with drought-induced low reservoir water levels. The identification of post-fire water contamination events and their drivers from large datasets can inform water managers about potential threats to water supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Nitzsche
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Nunes
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Soil Physics and Land Management group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Joana Parente
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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6
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Villarruel CM, Figueroa LA, Ranville JF. Quantification of Bioaccessible and Environmentally Relevant Trace Metals in Structure Ash from a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2502-2513. [PMID: 38277687 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08446] [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: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are increasing in frequency and intensity, driven by climate change and anthropogenic ignitions. Few studies have characterized the variability in the metal content in ash generated from burned structures in order to determine the potential risk to human and environmental health. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we analyzed leachable trace metal concentration in soils and ash from structures burned by the Marshall Fire, a WUI fire that destroyed over 1000 structures in Boulder County, Colorado. Acid digestion revealed that ash derived from structures contained 22 times more Cu and 3 times more Pb on average than surrounding soils on a mg/kg basis. Ash liberated 12 times more Ni (mg/kg) and twice as much Cr (mg/kg) as soils in a water leach. By comparing the amount of acid-extractable metals to that released by water and simulated epithelial lung fluid (SELF), we estimated their potential for environmental mobility and human bioaccessibility. The SELF leach showed that Cu and Ni were more bioaccessible (mg of leachable metal/mg of acid-extractable metal) in ash than in soils. These results suggest that structure ash is an important source of trace metals that can negatively impact the health of both humans and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Villarruel
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Linda A Figueroa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - James F Ranville
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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7
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Wall CB, Spiegel CJ, Diaz EM, Tran CH, Fabiani A, Broe TY, Perez-Coronel E, Jackrel SL, Mladenov N, Symons CC, Shurin JB. Fire transforms effects of terrestrial subsidies on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17058. [PMID: 38273540 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Fire can lead to transitions between forest and grassland ecosystems and trigger positive feedbacks to climate warming by releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Climate change is projected to increase the prevalence and severity of wildfires. However, fire effects on the fate and impact of terrestrial organic matter (i.e., terrestrial subsidies) in aquatic ecosystems are unclear. Here, we performed a gradient design experiment in freshwater pond mesocosms adding 15 different amounts of burned or unburned plant detritus and tracking the chronology of detritus effects at 10, 31, 59, and 89 days. We show terrestrial subsidies had time- and mass-dependent, non-linear impacts on ecosystem function that influenced dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ecosystem metabolism (net primary production and respiration), greenhouse gas concentrations (carbon dioxide [CO2 ], methane [CH4 ]), and trophic transfer. These impacts were shifted by fire treatment. Burning increased the elemental concentration of detritus (increasing %N, %P, %K), with cascading effects on ecosystem function. Mesocosms receiving burned detritus had lower [DOC] and [CO2 ] and higher dissolved oxygen (DO) through Day 59. Fire magnified the effects of plant detritus on aquatic ecosystem metabolism by stimulating photosynthesis and respiration at intermediate detritus-loading through Day 89. The effect of loading on DO was similar for burned and unburned treatments (Day 10); however, burned-detritus in the highest loading treatments led to sustained hypoxia (through Day 31), and long-term destabilization of ecosystem metabolism through Day 89. In addition, fire affected trophic transfer by increasing autochthonous nitrogen source utilization and reducing the incorporation of 15 N-labeled detritus into plankton biomass, thereby reducing the flux of terrestrial subsidies to higher trophic levels. Our results indicate fire chemically transforms plant detritus and alters the role of aquatic ecosystems in processing and storing carbon. Wildfire may therefore induce shifts in ecosystem functions that cross the boundary between aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Wall
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Cody J Spiegel
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Evelyn M Diaz
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Cindy H Tran
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Alexia Fabiani
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Taryn Y Broe
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Elisabet Perez-Coronel
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sara L Jackrel
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Natalie Mladenov
- Department of Civil Construction & Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Celia C Symons
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jonathan B Shurin
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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Spiegel CJ, Mladenov N, Wall CB, Hollman K, Tran CH, Symons CC, Shurin JB. Life after a fiery death: Fire and plant biomass loading affect dissolved organic matter in experimental ponds. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17061. [PMID: 38273537 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Drier and hotter conditions linked with anthropogenic climate change can increase wildfire frequency and severity, influencing terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycles at broad spatial and temporal scales. The impacts of wildfire are complex and dependent on several factors that may increase terrestrial deposition and the influx of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from plants into nearby aquatic systems, resulting in the darkening of water color. We tested the effects of plant biomass quantity and its interaction with fire (burned vs. unburned plant biomass) on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and degradation (biological vs. photochemical) and DOM composition in 400 L freshwater ponds using a gradient experimental design. DOC concentration increased nonlinearly with plant biomass loading in both treatments, with overall higher concentrations (>56 mg/L) in the unburned treatment shortly after plant addition. We also observed nonlinear trends in fluorescence and UV-visible absorbance spectroscopic indices as a function of fire treatment and plant biomass, such as greater humification and specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (a proxy for aromatic DOM) over time. DOM humification occurred gradually over time with less humification in the burned treatment compared to the unburned treatment. Both burned and unburned biomass released noncolored, low molecular weight carbon compounds that were rapidly consumed by microbes. DOC decomposition exhibited a unimodal relationship with plant biomass, with microbes contributing more to DOC loss than photodegradation at intermediate biomass levels (100-300 g). Our findings demonstrate that the quantity of plant biomass leads to nonlinear responses in the dynamics and composition of DOM in experimental ponds that are altered by fire, indicating how disturbances interactively affect DOM processing and its role in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J Spiegel
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Natalie Mladenov
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Christopher B Wall
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kelly Hollman
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Cindy H Tran
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Celia C Symons
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jonathan B Shurin
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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9
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Ladd TM, Catlett D, Maniscalco MA, Kim SM, Kelly RL, John SG, Carlson CA, Iglesias-Rodríguez MD. Food for all? Wildfire ash fuels growth of diverse eukaryotic plankton. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231817. [PMID: 37909074 PMCID: PMC10618864 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In December 2017, one of the largest wildfires in California history, the Thomas Fire, created a large smoke and ash plume that extended over the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Here, we explore the impact of Thomas Fire ash deposition on seawater chemistry and the growth and composition of natural microbial communities. Experiments conducted in coastal California waters during the Thomas Fire revealed that leaching of ash in seawater resulted in significant additions of dissolved nutrients including inorganic nitrogen (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium), silicic acid, metals (iron, nickel, cobalt and copper), organic nitrogen and organic carbon. After exposure to ash leachate at high (0.25 g ash l-1) and low (0.08 g ash l-1) concentrations for 4 days, natural microbial communities had 59-154% higher particulate organic carbon concentrations than communities without ash leachate additions. Additionally, a diverse assemblage of eukaryotic microbes (protists) responded to the ash leachate with taxa from 11 different taxonomic divisions increasing in relative abundance compared with control treatments. Our results suggest that large fire events can be important atmospheric sources of nutrients (particularly nitrogen) to coastal marine systems, where, through leaching of various nutrients, ash may act as a 'food for all' in protist communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. M. Ladd
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - D. Catlett
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - M. A. Maniscalco
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - S. M. Kim
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - R. L. Kelly
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - S. G. John
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C. A. Carlson
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - M. D. Iglesias-Rodríguez
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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10
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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 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09061] [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: 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, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Stephen D LeDuc
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - Katie Boaggio
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - Jeffrey D Herrick
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - S Douglas Kaylor
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - Meredith G Lassiter
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - Christopher G Nolte
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
| | - R Byron Rice
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 United States
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11
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Belongia MF, Hammond Wagner C, Seipp KQ, Ajami NK. Building water resilience in the face of cascading wildfire risks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf9534. [PMID: 37713490 PMCID: PMC10881079 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf9534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Severe wildfire is altering the natural and the built environment and posing risks to environmental and societal health and well-being, including cascading impacts to water systems and built water infrastructure. Research on wildfire-resilient water systems is growing but not keeping pace with the scale and severity of wildfire impacts, despite their intensifying threat. In this study, we evaluate the state of knowledge regarding wildfire-related hazards to water systems. We propose a holistic framework to assess interactions and feedback loops between water quality, quantity, and infrastructure hazards as determinants of post-fire water availability and access. Efforts to address the evolving threat of wildfires to water systems will require more interdisciplinary research on the complex relationships shaping wildfire's threat to water availability and access. To support this, we need reliable long-term data availability, consistent metrics, greater research in shared contexts, more extensive research beyond the burn area, and multistakeholder collaboration on wildfire risks to water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan F. Belongia
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Courtney Hammond Wagner
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Newsha K. Ajami
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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12
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Collar NM, Earles TA. Unique challenges posed by fire disturbance to water supply management and transfer agreements in a headwaters region. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117956. [PMID: 37080093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117956] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As a headwaters region, Colorado is a critical source of water for surrounding states and Mexico. But fuel densification and shifts in hydrometeorological processes, such as climate aridification and precipitation sharpening, are causing increasingly severe and erratic wildfire behavior and post-disturbance geomorphic hazards in and downstream of its forested source water areas. Human development patterns and inter and intra-state water rights agreements further complicate resource management. This is prompting land managers to consider progressive planning and management tools to mitigate fire-related degradation of water supply and irrigation systems. This narrative review examines aspects of Colorado's geography, demography, and hydrology that make its water supply systems and transfer agreements particularly vulnerable to landscape disturbance and then provides hazard mitigation recommendations. Readers are introduced to Colorado's water supply portfolio including how water is moved, stored, treated, and consumed; why those systems are vulnerable to wildfire disturbance; and how risk can be reduced before and after fires occur. Lessons learned are applicable to other source water areas facing similar challenges. By synthesizing our review findings, we identified numerous research and programmatic gaps including the need for more interdisciplinary studies; a lack of explicit research into how disturbance-driven hydromodification may hinder the ability of headwater regions to exercise their water rights and fulfill water transfer agreements (crucial for reducing potential future water conflict); an unresolved debate regarding the potential effects of forest treatments on water yield; and the need for additional funding to roll out tools and educational programs to communities experiencing severe wildfire activity for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Collar
- Wright Water Engineers, Inc., 2460 W 26th Ave. Ste 100A, Denver, CO, 80211, USA.
| | - T Andrew Earles
- Wright Water Engineers, Inc., 2460 W 26th Ave. Ste 100A, Denver, CO, 80211, USA
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13
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Sánchez-García C, Santín C, Neris J, Sigmund G, Otero XL, Manley J, González-Rodríguez G, Belcher CM, Cerdà A, Marcotte AL, Murphy SF, Rhoades CC, Sheridan G, Strydom T, Robichaud PR, Doerr SH. Chemical characteristics of wildfire ash across the globe and their environmental and socio-economic implications. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108065. [PMID: 37562341 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108065] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The mobilisation of potentially harmful chemical constituents in wildfire ash can be a major consequence of wildfires, posing widespread societal risks. Knowledge of wildfire ash chemical composition is crucial to anticipate and mitigate these risks. Here we present a comprehensive dataset on the chemical characteristics of a wide range of wildfire ashes (42 types and a total of 148 samples) from wildfires across the globe and examine their potential societal and environmental implications. An extensive review of studies analysing chemical composition in ash was also performed to complement and compare our ash dataset. Most ashes in our dataset had an alkaline reaction (mean pH 8.8, ranging between 6 and 11.2). Important constituents of wildfire ash were organic carbon (mean: 204 g kg-1), calcium, aluminium, and iron (mean: 47.9, 17.9 and 17.1 g kg-1). Mean nitrogen and phosphorus ranged between 1 and 25 g kg-1, and between 0.2 and 9.9 g kg-1, respectively. The largest concentrations of metals of concern for human and ecosystem health were observed for manganese (mean: 1488 mg kg-1; three ecosystems > 1000 mg kg-1), zinc (mean: 181 mg kg-1; two ecosystems > 500 mg kg-1) and lead (mean: 66.9 mg kg-1; two ecosystems > 200 mg kg-1). Burn severity and sampling timing were key factors influencing ash chemical characteristics like pH, carbon and nitrogen concentrations. The highest readily dissolvable fractions (as a % of ash dry weight) in water were observed for sodium (18 %) and magnesium (11.4 %). Although concentrations of elements of concern were very close to, or exceeded international contamination standards in some ashes, the actual effect of ash will depend on factors like ash loads and the dilution into environmental matrices such as water, soil and sediment. Our approach can serve as an initial methodological standardisation of wildfire ash sampling and chemical analysis protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sánchez-García
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - C Santín
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Research Institute of Biodiversity (IMIB; CSIC-UniOvi-PA), Mieres, Spain
| | - J Neris
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - G Sigmund
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - X L Otero
- CRETUS, Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J Manley
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | | | - C M Belcher
- University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - A Cerdà
- Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - A L Marcotte
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - S F Murphy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C C Rhoades
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - G Sheridan
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - T Strydom
- South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
| | - P R Robichaud
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - S H Doerr
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.
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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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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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Ocampos MS, Leite LCS, de Pádua Melo ES, de Cássia Avellaneda Guimarães R, Oliveira RJ, de Cássia Freitas K, Hiane PA, Karuppusamy A, do Nascimento VA. Indirect Methods to Determine the Risk of Damage to the Health of Firefighters and Children Due to Exposure to Smoke Emission from Burning Wood/Coal in a Controlled Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085607. [PMID: 37107889 PMCID: PMC10139234 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085607] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
People are constantly exposed to particulate matter and chemicals released during fires. However, there are still few studies on gas and particulate emissions related to exposure to burning firewood and charcoal during forest fires, making it difficult to understand the effects on the health of the population. The objective of this study was to quantify the metal(loid)s present in the smoke from wood and charcoal fires through the deposition of metals in beef topside and pork loin, considering the routes of skin exposure, inhalation, and ingestion, contributing to the understanding of metals in the increase of the risks of cancer and mortality associated with firefighting and children. The concentrations of metals [aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn)] and metalloids arsenic (As) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave digestion. Moreover, we assessed the associated risk regarding the elemental intake of these elements through the smoke, using the hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), Total Hazard Index (HIt), and carcinogenic risk (CR). All samples had results for HQ and HIt < 1, indicating a non-potential health risk. However, the carcinogenic risks posed by As and Cr via the three exposure pathways (except for inhalation exposure to children and adults, and by Cr via ingestion and inhalation for children and adults) exceeded the standard threshold. In conclusion, continuous exposure of firefighters or children to smoke from fires containing high concentrations of heavy metals such as As and Cr can be harmful to health. The study used animal tissues; thus, new methods must be developed to quantify the concentration of heavy metals deposited in human tissue when humans are exposed to smoke from fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Sampaio Ocampos
- Group of Spectroscopy and Bioinformatics Applied to Biodiversity and Health (GEBABS), Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Luana Carolina Santos Leite
- Group of Spectroscopy and Bioinformatics Applied to Biodiversity and Health (GEBABS), Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Elaine Silva de Pádua Melo
- Group of Spectroscopy and Bioinformatics Applied to Biodiversity and Health (GEBABS), Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Rita de Cássia Avellaneda Guimarães
- Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira
- Center for Studies in Stem Cells, Cell Therapy and Genetic Toxicology (CeTroGen), School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Karine de Cássia Freitas
- Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Priscila Aiko Hiane
- Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Arunachalam Karuppusamy
- Center for Studies in Stem Cells, Cell Therapy and Genetic Toxicology (CeTroGen), School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
| | - Valter Aragão do Nascimento
- Group of Spectroscopy and Bioinformatics Applied to Biodiversity and Health (GEBABS), Graduate Program in Health and Development in the Central-West Region of Brazil, School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79079-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: or
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16
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Raoelison OD, Valenca R, Lee A, Karim S, Webster JP, Poulin BA, Mohanty SK. Wildfire impacts on surface water quality parameters: Cause of data variability and reporting needs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120713. [PMID: 36435284 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Surface runoff mobilizes the burned residues and ashes produced during wildfires and deposits them in surface waters, thereby deteriorating water quality. A lack of a consistent reporting protocol precludes a quantitative understanding of how and to what extent wildfire may affect the water quality of surface waters. This study aims to analyze reported pre- and post-fire water quality data to inform the data reporting and highlight research opportunities. A comparison of the pre-and post-fire water quality data from 44 studies reveals that wildfire could increase the concentration of many pollutants by two orders of magnitude. However, the concentration increase is sensitive to when the sample was taken after the wildfire, the wildfire burned area, discharge rate in the surface water bodies where samples were collected, and pollutant type. Increases in burned areas disproportionally increased total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, indicating TSS concentration is dependent on the source area. Increases in surface water flow up to 10 m3 s-1 increased TSS concentration but any further increase in flow rate decreased TSS concentration, potentially due to dilution. Nutrients and suspended solids concentrations increase within a year after the wildfire, whereas peaks for heavy metals occur after 1-2 years of wildfire, indicating a delay in the leaching of heavy metals compared to nutrients from wildfire-affected areas. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was greatest within a year post-fire but did not exceed the surface water quality limits. The analysis also revealed inconsistency in the existing sampling protocols and provides a guideline for a modified protocol along with highlighting new research opportunities. Overall, this study underlines the need for consistent reporting of post-fire water quality data along with environmental factors that could affect the data so that the post-fire water quality can be assessed or compared between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onja D Raoelison
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Renan Valenca
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Allison Lee
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Samiha Karim
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jackson P Webster
- Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, Chico, USA
| | - Brett A Poulin
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Sanjay K Mohanty
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
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