Environmental Particulate Matter Levels during 2017 Large Forest Fires and Megafires in the Center Region of Portugal: A Public Health Concern?

Marta Oliveira,Cristina Delerue-Matos,Maria Carmo Pereira,Simone Morais

doi:10.3390/ijerph17031032

Abstract

This work characterizes the dimension and the exceptionality of 2017 large- and mega-fires that occurred in the center region of Portugal through the assessment of their impact on the ambient levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), retrieved from local monitoring stations, and the associated public health risks. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were increased during the occurrence of large fires and megafires, with daily concentrations exceeding the European/national guidelines in 7–14 and 1–12 days of 2017 (up to 704 µg/m3 for PM10 and 46 µg/m3 for PM2.5), respectively. PM10 concentrations were correlated with total burned area (0.500 < r < 0.949; p > 0.05) and with monthly total burned area/distance2 (0.500 < r < 0.667; p > 0.05). The forest fires of 2017 took the life of 112 citizens. A total of 474 cases of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases and 3524 cases of asthma incidence symptoms per 100,000 individuals at risk were assessed due to exposure to 2017 forest fires. Real-time and in situ PM methodologies should be combined with protection action plans to reduce public health risks. Portuguese rural stations should monitor other health-relevant pollutants (e.g., carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds) released from wildfires to allow performing more robust and comprehensive measurements that will allow a better assessment of the potential health risks for the exposed populations.

Highlights

Natural forest fires act as a catalyst for the necessary environmental change by causing the renewal of soil and air chemistry and recycling of the available nutrients
The present work highlights the public health implications that occurrence of forest fires can cause in exposed populations and in environment
PM2.5, it is recommended the inclusion of this pollutant in all the Portuguese rural monitoring stations

Summary

Introduction

Natural forest fires act as a catalyst for the necessary environmental change by causing the renewal of soil and air chemistry and recycling of the available nutrients. Wildfires cause replenishment of streamside vegetation and fire-adapted plants being dispersed, remove low-growing underbrush, clean the forest floor of debris, and nourish the soil. Climate change is an undeniable reality that has been causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events [1,2]. Climate change and global warming have been strongly affecting wildland fires through the changing in weather conditions and the effects on vegetation and forest fuels [3,4,5]. Several reports indicate that forest fires frequency and severity have significantly been increasing in the European Mediterranean countries, Australia, and in

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