According to the US agency NOAA Climate.gov, it is always difficult to immediately quantify the impact of climate change in extreme weather events, but there is much evidence that high temperatures and heat waves have worsened due to climate change.
In fact, heat waves in the United States have occurred more frequently and have lasted longer since the 1960s, consistent with a warming of the climate due to climate change. And according to NOAA’s Climate Extremes Index, the Southwest of that country has seen an enlargement of the area that suffers from extreme high temperatures in summer over the past twenty years, with very little relief in the past six years.
And not only have temperatures risen in the past, but expected to continue to increase due to the release of greenhouse gases. Specifically, as noted in the Special Report on Climate Science, extreme temperatures are expected to rise even more than average temperatures in the continental United States. Events like this heat wave may still be rare, but they will become more common by the end of the century.
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The consequences of that July heat wave have been dozens of deaths, most of them produced in British Columbia (Canada) and, in some places, this wave of extreme temperatures was followed by a series of big fires.
Fire: a public health problem
According to the report The Limits of Livability – The emerging threat of smoke impacts on health from forest fires and climate change, published by the Global Alliance for Climate and Health, the increasingly large and frequent forest and brush fires are having a greater impact on people’s health, even through longer and more frequent exposure to fire smoke by larger populations in distant cities.
This report, with case studies from Australia, Brazil and Canada, notes that governments around the world must act to prepare public health systems for the population impacts of recurrent episodes of disease. air pollution by fires caused by the climate crisis, deforestation practices and land mismanagement.
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Wildfires now cause episodes of extremely poor air quality that can affect very large populations.
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The aforementioned countries have suffered major fires in recent years that have captured world attention; However, forest fires, as well as fires deliberately set as part of deforestation, are also occurring in many other areas. countries around the world, including recent fires in Bolivia, Paraguay, Siberia, the western United States, and Indonesia.
Whether they are drivers of climate change, or a consequence of global warming, forest fires now cause episodes of extremely poor air quality that can affect very large populations. In Australia, for example, 80% of the population was affected by smoke pollution in the 2019/2020 fires.
Wildfire smoke contains a number of pollutants including particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Can pollute domestic water tanks and water courses with ash and particles, as well as fire retardant released by airplanes and helicopters.
Children, the elderly and the sick, the elderly affected
Health effects increase with increases in air pollution and are seen especially in children, the elderly, and people with existing chronic diseases.
People who spend the most time outdoors are most vulnerable, along with people over 65, people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular disease.
Even if modest, increases in pollution levels can have a significant impact on the health of the population if enough people are exposed or if the smoke persists for a long time.
The short-term impacts of wildfire smoke include coughing and shortness of breath.
Smoke from wildfires is a trigger for presentations of asthma and is associated with increased attendance at emergency hospitals after short-term exposure and particularly for children.
That health impact of smoke can be traced through changes in the number of pharmaceuticals commonly used to treat respiratory conditions, for example salbutamol used to relieve asthma symptoms.
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Short-term impacts of wildfire smoke include coughing and shortness of breath.
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A recent study of exposure to particulate pollution during wildfire seasons in British Columbia indicated that impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health were observable within one hour of exposure to 2.5 particles per million and a impact on the results of the diabetes over time.
Currently, large cohort studies are being conducted in Canada and Australia investigating the impacts of wildfire smoke pollution on the results of the births.
Finally, it should be noted that while there is good evidence for the short-term effects of wildfire smoke, there is still good evidence long-term effects are not really known.
recommendations
The report of the Global Alliance for Climate and Health highlights that the preparedness, adaptation and mitigation They are necessary to protect people’s health from the impacts of wildfire smoke.
The first of their recommendations is the adoption of a immediate moratorium on land clearing fires man-made in the Amazon and other applicable regions and improving fire management practices, including collaboration and learning from indigenous fire managers.
It also recommends preparing communities and government agencies for a effective response to wildfires and smoke, with fire evacuation plans that must be renewed and kept up to date and, fundamentally, communicated to residents.
The fact that the long-term impacts of exposure to wildfire smoke on health and sanitation are not fully known makes it very necessary to do so as well. collected data on the impact on health to be able to carry out the proper investigations in this area.
And finally, the need to take global climate action is pointed out and to recognize that the increase in extreme forest fires is another stark warning of the impacts and health threats of climate change.
Climate mitigation commitments should be aligned with the objective of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and prioritize measures that strengthen health, well-being and health systems in the short term, while meeting climate mitigation goals.
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