Environmental measurements: Extent of wildfire’s impact on Public Health
The health effects of such pollutants can last for months, according to the Professor of Environmental Health at CUT.
In cases of wildfires, the responsible authorities must conduct spatially repeated environmental measurements as well as human biomonitoring to determine at any given moment the magnitude of the impact on public health, said Professor of Environmental Health at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), Konstantinos Makris, in a statement to CNA.
He explained that, ideally, this should be part of a disaster management plan developed by the authorities, to be implemented both during and after a wildfire. Indicative pollutants to monitor include dioxins, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ozone, and ash particles of various sizes.
Professor Makris noted that the health effects of such pollutants can persist for months, citing the example of the fires in Los Angeles, where residents are still suffering. The effects primarily involve the respiratory and circulatory systems, as well as the kidneys.
“Ash can contain specific particles, and the smaller they are, the more dangerous they become to health because they can easily penetrate the alveoli of the respiratory system and are very difficult to remove from the body. This slowly leads to chronic inflammation, which is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups,” he explained.
He also advised residents to take significant protective measures when cleaning their homes and other affected buildings from ash. This includes wearing a specialized P95 mask and thoroughly cleaning furniture and other items—only if the outdoor air is clean and the work is done with open windows.
Professor Makris stressed the need for measurements to be taken in the affected zones, near ground zero, and in more distant areas to understand the spread of potentially hazardous substances that pose a threat to human health.
He added that even if measurements later indicate these particles have cleared from the atmosphere, it means they have settled somewhere—in the soil and groundwater.
“After such a crisis, we really need to assess and understand both the short-term and long-term effects. There are many silent dangers associated with this fire that persist even after the flames are out,” he said.
In response to a question about additional dangers if it is confirmed that the fire originated from a landfill site, the Professor told CNA that the situation becomes significantly more serious. In such cases, not only vegetation burns, but also various objects—plastics and other materials—which release dioxins and other highly hazardous chemicals into the air.
He also emphasized that firefighters, rescuers, volunteers, and others who were present at ground zero should undergo specialized medical examinations to ensure that their health has not been affected by toxic chemicals, metals, and the extreme heat exposure.
“It’s not just the thermal stress—it’s also the chemicals released, the gases, and the particles we discussed earlier. All of these together create a highly dangerous mix for human health,” he said.
However, he clarified that it cannot be said with certainty that those exposed will have a significantly higher cancer risk compared to those who were not exposed to this particular wildfire.
What we can say, he added, is the need to minimize the population’s exposure to the above pollutants, which now exist in the atmosphere, in our homes, and are gradually contaminating water reservoirs. “To do that, we must first confirm the pollutant levels and the extent of their spread in the surrounding areas,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
