When wildfires spread into neighborhoods They burn all kinds of materials found in cars, homes, and everything around them: electronics, paint, plastic, furniture.
The results of the research found that the ingredients of Chemicals are released When man-made materials such as these burn, they are different from what is released during plant fires and may be more toxic. Smoke and ash can blow under doors and around windows in nearby homes. As a result, the chemicals are absorbed into furniture, walls, and other indoor surfaces. and continue to release gases for weeks or months.
If people return to homes damaged by smoke after a wildfire, Can be done in several steps To protect your own health before starting to clean
Higher levels of metals and VOCs
In 2021, after the Marshall Fire burned through a neighborhood near Boulder, Colorado, my colleagues and I at a university and lab in Colorado Heard from many residents who are concerned about the ash and A musty smell permeated their home. that escaped the flames
They found it in the house that my colleague quickly tested. Higher levels of metals and PAHs – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – in the ash.– We also found volatile organic compounds. (volatile organic compounds) increased in airborne samples Some volatile organic substances such as Dioxins– petrol– formaldehyde and PAHmay be toxic to humans. Gasoline is known carcinogens–
At the time, we had no information on the impact on the physical health of people returning to homes damaged by smoke after the bushfires. In order to look for patterns, we Villagers who conducted the survey affected by the fire six months, one year, and two years after the fire
Even six months after the fire We found that. Many people report symptoms. That is consistent with the health risks associated with smoke and ash from fires.
More than half (55%) reported that they were experiencing at least one symptom in the six months after the Marshall Fire blaze. The most common symptoms reported included itchy or watery eyes (33%), headache (30%), dry cough (27%), sneezing (26%), and sore throat (23%).
All these symptoms As well as having a strange taste in the mouth, it is related to people reporting that their home smelled different when they came home a week after the fire.
Many survey respondents said the smell decreased over time. This is mostly due to scents that change over time. Cleaning surfaces and air ducts Changing furnace filters and removing carpets, textiles and furniture from the home, however, many people still experience symptoms.
We also found that living near a number of burned structures was associated with these health symptoms. We found that for every 10 additional buildings destroyed within 820 feet (250 meters) of a person's home, the number of buildings destroyed increased significantly. There was a 21% increase in headaches and strange tastes. in the mouth increased by 26%
These symptoms are consistent with what would be expected from exposure to chemicals we found in the ash and measured in the air within a few Houses that were damaged by smoke that we were able to study in depth
Freezes and questions
There are still many unanswered questions about the health risks of homes damaged by smoke and ash.
For example, we don't yet know what the long-term health effects might look like for people living with residual gases from wildfire smoke and ash in their homes. We found that it was significant. The number of people decreased Symptoms were reported one year after the fire, however, 33 percent of people whose homes were affected responded to a later survey. At least one symptom of the fire is still being reported. The same percentage also reported at least one symptom two years after the fire.
We also cannot measure the levels of VOCs or metals an individual is exposed to. But we think reports of changes in the smell of a person's home one week after the fire show that there are likely more volatile organic compounds in the home. That is likely to have health implications for those whose homes are exposed to smoke or ash from wildfires.
Advice on protecting yourself after a forest fire
wildfire veins Burning of houses and other structures has increased. such as More people are moving in. Wildland-Urban interface temperature rise and the fire season will be longer.
If your home survived a nearby forest fire Here are some solutions. Steps to think about Before starting cleaning:
- When you're ready to clean the house Start by protecting yourself. Wear at least an N95 (or KN95) mask. and gloves, goggles, and clothing that covers your skin. Cleaning can send some of those gases and ash into the air again.
- Keep people with heart or lung disease, the elderly, pregnant women, children, and pets away from cleaning activities.
- Vacuum floors, curtains, and furniture. Latest scientific studies Method documents Clean every surface Inside the home, it can reduce the amount of VOCs in the air and reduce the concentration of VOCs in the air inside the building. When the weather outside is clear Open the windows to let in fresh air.
- Avoid harsh cleaners as they can react with the chemicals in the ash.
- Clean your HVAC filters and ducts to avoid spreading ash further. And change the filter every month until the smell disappears. Portable air purifiers with carbon filters can help remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particles.
- If your car smells of smoke Consider replacing the cabin air filter.
This is an update to the article. First published December 23/02/2024–
Colleen E. ReedAssociate Professor of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder
This article was republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. Read Original article–