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White AR. The firestorm within: A narrative review of extreme heat and wildfire smoke effects on brain health. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171239. [PMID: 38417511 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is generating increased heatwaves and wildfires across much of the world. With these escalating environmental changes comes greater impacts on human health leading to increased numbers of people suffering from heat- and wildfire smoke-associated respiratory and cardiovascular impairment. One area of health impact of climate change that has received far less attention is the effects of extreme heat and wildfire smoke exposure on human brain health. As elevated temperatures, and wildfire-associated smoke, are increasingly experienced simultaneously over summer periods, understanding this combined impact is critical to management of human health especially in the elderly, and people with dementia, and other neurological disorders. Both extreme heat and wildfire smoke air pollution (especially particulate matter, PM) induce neuroinflammatory and cerebrovascular effects, oxidative stress, and cognitive impairment, however the combined effect of these impacts are not well understood. In this narrative review, a comprehensive examination of extreme heat and wildfire smoke impact on human brain health is presented, with a focus on how these factors contribute to cognitive impairment, and dementia, one of the leading health issues today. Also discussed is the potential impact of combined heat and wildfire smoke on brain health, and where future efforts should be applied to help advance knowledge in this rapidly growing and critical field of health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia.
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Baron JN, Hessburg PF, Parisien MA, Greene GA, Gergel SE, Daniels LD. Fuel types misrepresent forest structure and composition in interior British Columbia: a way forward. Fire Ecol 2024; 20:15. [PMID: 38333107 PMCID: PMC10847212 DOI: 10.1186/s42408-024-00249-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Background A clear understanding of the connectivity, structure, and composition of wildland fuels is essential for effective wildfire management. However, fuel typing and mapping are challenging owing to a broad diversity of fuel conditions and their spatial and temporal heterogeneity. In Canada, fuel types and potential fire behavior are characterized using the Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System, which uses an association approach to categorize vegetation into 16 fuel types based on stand structure and composition. In British Columbia (BC), provincial and national FBP System fuel type maps are derived from remotely sensed forest inventory data and are widely used for wildfire operations, fuel management, and scientific research. Despite their widespread usage, the accuracy and applicability of these fuel type maps have not been formally assessed. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified the agreement between on-site assessments and provincial and national fuel type maps in interior BC. Results We consistently found poor correspondence between field assessment data and both provincial and national fuel types. Mismatches were particularly frequent for (i) dry interior ecosystems, (ii) mixedwood and deciduous fuel types, and (iii) post-harvesting conditions. For 58% of field plots, there was no suitable match to the extant fuel structure and composition. Mismatches were driven by the accuracy and availability of forest inventory data and low applicability of the Canadian FBP System to interior BC fuels. Conclusions The fuel typing mismatches we identified can limit scientific research, but also challenge wildfire operations and fuel management decisions. Improving fuel typing accuracy will require a significant effort in fuel inventory data and system upgrades to adequately represent the diversity of extant fuels. To more effectively link conditions to expected fire behavior outcomes, we recommend a fuel classification approach and emphasis on observed fuels and measured fire behavior data for the systems we seek to represent. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42408-024-00249-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Baron
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Paul F. Hessburg
- USDA-FS, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Wenatchee, WA 98801 USA
- University of Washington, School of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195-2100 USA
| | - Marc-André Parisien
- Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Center, Edmonton, AB T6H 3S5 Canada
| | - Gregory A. Greene
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Sarah. E. Gergel
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Lori D. Daniels
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
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Jung J, Wilkins JL, Schollaert CL, Masuda YJ, Flunker JC, Connolly RE, D'Evelyn SM, Bonillia E, Rappold AG, Haugo RD, Marlier ME, Spector JT. Advancing the community health vulnerability index for wildland fire smoke exposure. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167834. [PMID: 37839481 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire smoke risks are not uniformly distributed across people and places, and the most vulnerable communities are often disproportionately impacted. This study develops a county level community health vulnerability index (CHVI) for the Contiguous United States (CONUS) using three major vulnerability components: adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure at the national and regional level. We first calculated sensitivity and adaptive capacity sub-indices using nine sensitivity and twenty adaptive capacity variables. These sub-indices were then combined with an exposure sub-index, which is based on the Community Multiscale Air Quality data (2008-2018), to develop CHVI. Finally, we conducted several analyses with the derived indices to: 1) explore associations between the level of fine particulate matter from wildland fires (fire-PM2.5) and the sub-indices/CHVI; 2) measure the impact of fire-PM2.5 on the increase in the annual number of days with 12-35 μg/m3 (moderate) and >35 μg/m3 (at or above unhealthy for sensitive groups) based on the US EPA Air Quality Index categories, and 3) calculate population size in different deciles of the sub-indices/CHVI. This study has three main findings. First, we showed that the counties with higher daily fire-PM2.5 concentration tend to have lower adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity and vulnerability. Relatedly, the counties at high risk tended to experience a greater increase in the annual number of days with 12-35 μg/m3 and >35 μg/m3 than their counterparts. Second, we found that 16.1, 12.0, and 17.6 million people out of 332 million in CONUS reside in the counties in the lowest adaptive capacity decile, highest sensitivity decile, and highest vulnerability decile, respectively. Third, we identified that the US Northwest, California, and Southern regions tended to have higher vulnerability than others. Accurately identifying a community's vulnerability to wildfire smoke can help individuals, researchers, and policymakers better understand, prepare for, and respond to future wildland fire events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Jung
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Joseph L Wilkins
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA; School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire L Schollaert
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yuta J Masuda
- Partnerships and Programs, Vulcan LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John C Flunker
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel E Connolly
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Savannah M D'Evelyn
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eimy Bonillia
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ana G Rappold
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Miriam E Marlier
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - June T Spector
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Wood LM, D’Evelyn SM, Errett NA, Bostrom A, Desautel C, Alvarado E, Ray K, Spector JT. "When people see me, they know me; they trust what I say": characterizing the role of trusted sources for smoke risk communication in the Okanogan River Airshed Emphasis Area. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2388. [PMID: 36539797 PMCID: PMC9763808 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14816-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As wildfire smoke events increase in intensity and frequency in the Pacific Northwest, there is a growing need for effective communication on the health risks of smoke exposure. Delivery through a trusted source or intermediary has been shown to improve reception of risk communication messages. This is especially salient in rural and tribal communities who may be hesitant to trust information from state and federal agency sources. This study aims to identify and characterize trusted sources for smoke risk information in the Okanogan River Airshed Emphasis Area (ORAEA), a rural region of North Central Washington state that is heavily impacted by smoke from wildfires and prescribed fire. METHODS The research team conducted a qualitative study using data collected through key informant interviews and focus groups to assess the role of various sources and intermediaries in disseminating smoke risk information. We used a consensual coding approach in NVivo Qualitative Analysis Software to sort data into preliminary categories, which were grouped into themes using a thematic analysis approach. We used member checking and iterative feedback processes with local project partners throughout the project to ensure credibility of results. RESULTS Through the analysis, we identified three themes characterizing trusted sources for smoke risk communication in the ORAEA. These themes were: (1) local and tribal sources of information are perceived as more trustworthy than state and federal government sources, (2) trustworthiness is determined by an evaluation of multiple factors, in particular, perceived credibility, quality of information, and relationship with the source, and (3) conservative political ideology and perceived parallels with COVID-19 communication influence perception of trust. Within each theme, we identified several sub-themes, which contributed additional nuance to our analysis. CONCLUSION This study provides insights into which sources of information are trusted by rural and tribal community members in the ORAEA and why. Results from our study emphasize the importance of relationships and collaboration with local and tribal partners in smoke risk communication. In this paper, we discuss implications for state and federal agency practitioners and present recommendations for how to work with local and tribal partners on smoke risk communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Wood
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Savannah M D’Evelyn
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nicole A Errett
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Ann Bostrom
- Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Cody Desautel
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Natural Resources Department, Nespelem, USA
| | - Ernesto Alvarado
- School of Environmental and Forestry Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Kris Ray
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Natural Resources Department, Nespelem, USA
| | - June T Spector
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Koman PD, Billmire M, Baker KR, Carter JM, Thelen BJ, French NHF, Bell SA. Using wildland fire smoke modeling data in gerontological health research (California, 2007-2018). Sci Total Environ 2022; 838:156403. [PMID: 35660427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Widespread population exposure to wildland fire smoke underscores the urgent need for new techniques to characterize fire-derived pollution for epidemiologic studies and to build climate-resilient communities especially for aging populations. Using atmospheric chemical transport modeling, we examined air quality with and without wildland fire smoke PM2.5. In 12-km gridded output, the 24-hour average concentration of all-source PM2.5 in California (2007-2018) was 5.16 μg/m3 (S.D. 4.66 μg/m3). The average concentration of fire-PM2.5 in California by year was 1.61 μg/m3 (~30% of total PM2.5). The contribution of fire-source PM2.5 ranged from 6.8% to 49%. We define a "smokewave" as two or more consecutive days with modeled levels above 35 μg/m3. Based on model-derived fire-PM2.5, 99.5% of California's population lived in a county that experienced at least one smokewave from 2007 to 2018, yet understanding of the impact of smoke on the health of aging populations is limited. Approximately 2.7 million (56%) of California residents aged 65+ years lived in counties representing the top 3 quartiles of fire-PM2.5 concentrations (2007-2018). For each year (2007-2018), grid cells containing skilled nursing facilities had significantly higher mean concentrations of all-source PM2.5 than cells without those facilities, but they also had generally lower mean concentrations of wildland fire-specific PM2.5. Compared to rural monitors in California, model predictions of wildland fire impacts on daily average PM2.5 carbon (organic and elemental) performed well most years but tended to overestimate wildland fire impacts for high-fire years. The modeling system isolated wildland fire PM2.5 from other sources at monitored and unmonitored locations, which is important for understanding exposures for aging population in health studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D Koman
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Michael Billmire
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Kirk R Baker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Julie M Carter
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Brian J Thelen
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Nancy H F French
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Sue Anne Bell
- University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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D’Evelyn SM, Jung J, Alvarado E, Baumgartner J, Caligiuri P, Hagmann RK, Henderson SB, Hessburg PF, Hopkins S, Kasner EJ, Krawchuk MA, Krenz JE, Lydersen JM, Marlier ME, Masuda YJ, Metlen K, Mittelstaedt G, Prichard SJ, Schollaert CL, Smith EB, Stevens JT, Tessum CW, Reeb-Whitaker C, Wilkins JL, Wolff NH, Wood LM, Haugo RD, Spector JT. Wildfire, Smoke Exposure, Human Health, and Environmental Justice Need to be Integrated into Forest Restoration and Management. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:366-385. [PMID: 35524066 PMCID: PMC9076366 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00355-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Increasing wildfire size and severity across the western United States has created an environmental and social crisis that must be approached from a transdisciplinary perspective. Climate change and more than a century of fire exclusion and wildfire suppression have led to contemporary wildfires with more severe environmental impacts and human smoke exposure. Wildfires increase smoke exposure for broad swaths of the US population, though outdoor workers and socially disadvantaged groups with limited adaptive capacity can be disproportionally exposed. Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with a range of health impacts in children and adults, including exacerbation of existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, worse birth outcomes, and cardiovascular events. Seasonally dry forests in Washington, Oregon, and California can benefit from ecological restoration as a way to adapt forests to climate change and reduce smoke impacts on affected communities. RECENT FINDINGS Each wildfire season, large smoke events, and their adverse impacts on human health receive considerable attention from both the public and policymakers. The severity of recent wildfire seasons has state and federal governments outlining budgets and prioritizing policies to combat the worsening crisis. This surging attention provides an opportunity to outline the actions needed now to advance research and practice on conservation, economic, environmental justice, and public health interests, as well as the trade-offs that must be considered. Scientists, planners, foresters and fire managers, fire safety, air quality, and public health practitioners must collaboratively work together. This article is the result of a series of transdisciplinary conversations to find common ground and subsequently provide a holistic view of how forest and fire management intersect with human health through the impacts of smoke and articulate the need for an integrated approach to both planning and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah M. D’Evelyn
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Jihoon Jung
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Ernesto Alvarado
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Dept of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - R. Keala Hagmann
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Applegate Forestry, LLC, Corvallis, USA
| | | | - Paul F. Hessburg
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Wenatchee, WA USA
| | - Sean Hopkins
- Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, USA
| | - Edward J. Kasner
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Meg A. Krawchuk
- Dept. of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Krenz
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Jamie M. Lydersen
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Sacramento, USA
| | - Miriam E. Marlier
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | | | | | - Susan J. Prichard
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Claire L. Schollaert
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | | | - Jens T. Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - Christopher W. Tessum
- Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
| | - Carolyn Reeb-Whitaker
- Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Tumwater, USA
| | - Joseph L. Wilkins
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC USA
| | | | - Leah M. Wood
- Evan’s School of Public Policy and Governance and The Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | | | - June T. Spector
- Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
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Vu BN, Bi J, Wang W, Huff A, Kondragunta S, Liu Y. Application of geostationary satellite and high-resolution meteorology data in estimating hourly PM 2.5 levels during the Camp Fire episode in California. Remote Sens Environ 2022; 271:112890. [PMID: 37033879 PMCID: PMC10081518 DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2022.112890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire smoke contains large amounts of PM2.5 that can traverse tens to hundreds of kilometers, resulting in significant deterioration of air quality and excess mortality and morbidity in downwind regions. Estimating PM2.5 levels while considering the impact of wildfire smoke has been challenging due to the lack of ground monitoring coverage near the smoke plumes. We aim to estimate total PM2.5 concentration during the Camp Fire episode, the deadliest wildland fire in California history. Our random forest (RF) model combines calibrated low-cost sensor data (PurpleAir) with regulatory monitor measurements (Air Quality System, AQS) to bolster ground observations, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16)'s high temporal resolution to achieve hourly predictions, and oversampling techniques (Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique, SMOTE) to reduce model underestimation at high PM2.5 levels. In addition, meteorological fields at 3 km resolution from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model and land use variables were also included in the model. Our AQS-only model achieved an out of bag (OOB) R2 (RMSE) of 0.84 (12.00 μg/m3) and spatial and temporal cross-validation (CV) R2 (RMSE) of 0.74 (16.28 μg/m3) and 0.73 (16.58 μg/m3), respectively. Our AQS + Weighted PurpleAir Model achieved OOB R2 (RMSE) of 0.86 (9.52 μg/m3) and spatial and temporal CV R2 (RMSE) of 0.75 (14.93 μg/m3) and 0.79 (11.89 μg/m3), respectively. Our AQS + Weighted PurpleAir + SMOTE Model achieved OOB R2 (RMSE) of 0.92 (10.44 μg/m3) and spatial and temporal CV R2 (RMSE) of 0.84 (12.36 μg/m3) and 0.85 (14.88 μg/m3), respectively. Hourly predictions from our model may aid in epidemiological investigations of intense and acute exposure to PM2.5 during the Camp Fire episode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan N. Vu
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jianzhao Bi
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Wenhao Wang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amy Huff
- I.M. Systems Group, 5825 University Research Ct, Suite 3250, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Shobha Kondragunta
- Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division, STAR Center for Satellite Applications and Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Yang Liu
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Koopmans E, Cornish K, Fyfe TM, Bailey K, Pelletier CA. Health risks and mitigation strategies from occupational exposure to wildland fire: a scoping review. J Occup Med Toxicol 2022; 17:2. [PMID: 34983565 PMCID: PMC8725416 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-021-00328-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Due to accelerating wildland fire activity, there is mounting urgency to understand, prevent, and mitigate the occupational health impacts associated with wildland fire suppression. The objectives of this review of academic and grey literature were to: 1. Identify the impact of occupational exposure to wildland fires on physical, mental, and emotional health; and 2. Examine the characteristics and effectiveness of prevention, mitigation, or management strategies studied to reduce negative health outcomes associated with occupational exposure to wildland fire. METHODS Following established scoping review methods, academic literature as well as government and industry reports were identified by searching seven academic databases and through a targeted grey literature search. 4679 articles were screened using pre-determined eligibility criteria. Data on study characteristics, health outcomes assessed, prevention or mitigation strategies studied, and main findings were extracted from each included document. The results of this scoping review are presented using descriptive tables and a narrative summary to organize key findings. RESULTS The final sample was comprised of 100 articles: 76 research articles and 24 grey literature reports. Grey literature focused on acute injuries and fatalities. Health outcomes reported in academic studies focused on respiratory health (n = 14), mental health (n = 16), and inflammation and oxidative stress (n = 12). The identified studies evaluated short-term outcomes measuring changes across a single shift or wildland fire season. Most research was conducted with wildland firefighters and excluded personnel such as aviation crews, contract crews, and incident management teams. Five articles reported direct study of mitigation strategies, focusing on the potential usage of masks, advanced hygiene protocols to reduce exposure, fluid intake to manage hydration and core temperature, and glutamine supplementation to reduce fatigue. CONCLUSIONS While broad in scope, the evidence base linking wildland fire exposure to any one health outcome is limited. The lack of long-term evidence on changes in health status or morbidity is a clear evidence gap and there is a need to prioritize research on the mental and physical health impact of occupational exposure to wildland fire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Koopmans
- Health Research Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Katie Cornish
- Health Research Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Trina M Fyfe
- Northern Medical Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Katherine Bailey
- School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Chelsea A Pelletier
- School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada.
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Abstract
Climate change, drought, forest pest infestations, and pathogens, and high fuel loadings all factor into the expansion of territory in the United States deemed high-risk for high-intensity wildfire. Risks also mount as a decades-long demographic shift plays out, with individuals and families relocating from urban centers to more sparsely populated, vegetated areas on the margins of cities and towns-a trend that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. As some insurance carriers cease underwriting homeowners insurance in wildfire-prone areas, property owners can be expected to shoulder more costs for home hardening. The equity implications of who pays to fireproof homes and neighborhoods will intensify as wildfire risks multiply in areas beyond the comparatively wealthier wildland-urban interfaces (WUI) of the Pacific coastal states. Systems of polycentric governance, consisting of problem-solving actors who collaborate across jurisdictional and geographical boundaries, can help make wildfire mitigation more equitable. Polycentric governance institutions already help communities adapt to destructive wildfire in the United States. Lessons learned from these institutions must be tailored to poor and marginalized communities in harm's way-with a sense of urgency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Auer
- School of Public and International Affairs, The University of Georgia, 202 Herty Drive, Athens, GA 30602-1492 USA
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Nelson K, Thompson D, Hopkinson C, Petrone R, Chasmer L. Peatland-fire interactions: A review of wildland fire feedbacks and interactions in Canadian boreal peatlands. Sci Total Environ 2021; 769:145212. [PMID: 33486170 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Boreal peatlands store a disproportionately large quantity of soil carbon (C) and play a critical role within the global C-climate system; however, with climatic warming, these C stores are at risk. Increased wildfire frequency and severity are expected to increase C loss from boreal peatlands, contributing to a shift from C sink to source. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of pre- and post-fire hydrological and ecological interactions that affect the likelihood of peatland burning, address the connections between peatland fires and the C-climate cycle, and provide a conceptual model of peatland processes as they relate to wildland fire, hydro-climate, and ecosystem change. Despite negative ecohydrological feedback mechanisms that may compensate for increased C loss initially, the cumulative effects of climatic warming, anthropogenic peatland fragmentation, and subsequent peatland drying will increase C loss to the atmosphere, driving a positive C feedback cycle. However, the extent to which negative and positive feedbacks will compensate for one another and the timelines for each remains unclear. We suggest that a multi-disciplinary approach of combining process knowledge with remotely sensed data and ecohydrological and wildland fire models is essential for better understanding the role of boreal peatlands and wildland fire in the global climate system.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nelson
- Dept. of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - D Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - C Hopkinson
- Dept. of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - R Petrone
- Dept. of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - L Chasmer
- Dept. of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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11
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Howell A, Bretfeld M, Belmont E. Impacts of bark beetle-induced tree mortality on pyrogenic carbon production and heat output in wildfires for fire modeling and global carbon accounting. Sci Total Environ 2021; 760:144149. [PMID: 33341616 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Forests store significant quantities of carbon, and accurate quantification of the fate of this carbon after fire is necessary for global carbon accounting. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) encompasses various carbonaceous products of incomplete combustion formed during fires and has potential to act as a carbon sink for up to millennia, but current estimates of PyC production in wildfires vary widely. Northern hardwood forests have changed dramatically in recent decades due to insect epidemics, such as the bark beetle epidemic in the Rocky Mountain Region which has caused widespread mortality. This study assessed impacts of bark beetle-induced mortality on fuel pyrolysis kinetics, carbon partitioning of combustion products, and net heat output to aid in forest fire modeling and carbon accounting by comparing healthy and beetle-killed lodgepole pine tree boles burned in a 2018 forest fire in southeast Wyoming, USA with unburned boles. Results showed charring predominantly restricted to the bark and cambium. Significant differences between burned and unburned healthy and beetle-impacted bark/cambium compositions were identified, and PyC production and energy output were quantified. Charring extent and PyC content were found to be greater in beetle-impacted boles due to a reduction in bark/cambium resistance to heating and charring, with 80 times more PyC produced in a beetle-killed bark/cambium than in a healthy bark/cambium. Upon scale-up, total PyC production in the fire-affected area was estimated to be 0.71 GgPyC (82.5 kgPyC/ha). This was found to be significantly enhanced compared to an estimated PyC production of 0.036 GgPyC (4.12 kgPyC/ha) in a hypothetical healthy lodgepole pine ecosystem of equal area. The results of this investigation concluded that the 58% beetle-induced mortality in the Badger Creek Fire area resulted in 3 times more carbon released to the global atmosphere, 20 times more PyC retained onsite and 32% greater heat output during wildfire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Howell
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Mario Bretfeld
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, 370 Paulding Ave., Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Erica Belmont
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, USA.
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12
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Ziegler JP, Hoffman CM, Collins BM, Knapp EE, Mell W(R. Pyric tree spatial patterning interactions in historical and contemporary mixed conifer forests, California, USA. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:820-834. [PMID: 33520169 PMCID: PMC7820164 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree spatial patterns in dry coniferous forests of the western United States, and analogous ecosystems globally, were historically aggregated, comprising a mixture of single trees and groups of trees. Modern forests, in contrast, are generally more homogeneous and overstocked than their historical counterparts. As these modern forests lack regular fire, pattern formation and maintenance is generally attributed to fire. Accordingly, fires in modern forests may not yield historically analogous patterns. However, direct observations on how selective tree mortality among pre-existing forest structure shapes tree spatial patterns is limited. In this study, we (a) simulated fires in historical and contemporary counterpart plots in a Sierra Nevadan mixed-conifer forest, (b) estimated tree mortality, and (c) examined tree spatial patterns of live trees before and after fire, and of fire-killed trees. Tree mortality in the historical period was clustered and density-dependent, because trees were aggregated and segregated by tree size before fire. Thus, fires maintained an aggregated distribution of tree groups. Tree mortality in the contemporary period was widespread, except for dispersed large trees, because most trees were a part of large, interconnected tree groups. Thus, postfire tree patterns were more uniform and devoid of moderately sized tree groups. Postfire tree patterns in the historical period, unlike the contemporary period, were within the historical range of variability identified for the western United States. This divergence suggests that decades of forest dynamics without significant disturbances have altered the historical means of pyric pattern formation. Our results suggest that ecological silvicultural treatments, such as forest restoration thinnings, which emulate qualities of historical forests may facilitate the reintroduction of fire as a means to reinforce forest structural heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Ziegler
- Department of Forest & Rangeland StewardshipColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - Chad M. Hoffman
- Department of Forest & Rangeland StewardshipColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - Brandon M. Collins
- Center for Fire Research & OutreachUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
- Pacific Southwest Research StationUS Forest ServiceDavisCAUSA
| | - Eric E. Knapp
- Pacific Southwest Research StationUS Forest ServiceReddingCAUSA
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13
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Lin S, Cheung YK, Xiao Y, Huang X. Can rain suppress smoldering peat fire? Sci Total Environ 2020; 727:138468. [PMID: 32334212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Smoldering wildfire in peatlands contributes significantly to global carbon emissions and regional haze events. Smoldering fire in peatlands is one of the largest and most persistent fire phenomena on Earth. Here we assess the underlying mechanism of rain in suppressing the smoldering peat fire in the shallow soil layer up to 15 cm deep through laboratory experiments. We show that the minimum rainfall intensity to extinguish the peat fire is roughly 4 mm/h, so that the persistent light rain cannot suppress such smoldering wildfire. The required rain duration, ∆t (min), for extinguishing smoldering peat fire decreases with the rainfall intensities, I (mm/h), as log10∆t = - 1.15log10I + 3.3, and is much longer than that for extinguishing flaming wildfire. We also identify that the required rainfall depth for extinguishing peat fire gradually decreases with the rainfall intensity and approaches a minimum value of 13 mm under violent rain. As rainfall intensity increases, the carbon emission flux from peat fire decreases. Therefore, we conclude that the short-term violent rain is most effective for suppressing the persistent smoldering peat fire. This research helps evaluate the impact of weather on the development of peat fire and improve the prediction of carbon emissions from peat fire with the use of regional weather models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaorun Lin
- Research Centre for Fire Engineering, Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yau Kuen Cheung
- Research Centre for Fire Engineering, Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yang Xiao
- Research Centre for Fire Engineering, Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Xinyan Huang
- Research Centre for Fire Engineering, Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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14
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Navarro KM, Kleinman MT, Mackay CE, Reinhardt TE, Balmes JR, Broyles GA, Ottmar RD, Naher LP, Domitrovich JW. Wildland firefighter smoke exposure and risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality. Environ Res 2019; 173:462-468. [PMID: 30981117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Wildland firefighters are exposed to wood smoke, which contains hazardous air pollutants, by suppressing thousands of wildfires across the U. S. each year. We estimated the relative risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality from existing PM2.5 exposure-response relationships using measured PM4 concentrations from smoke and breathing rates from wildland firefighter field studies across different exposure scenarios. To estimate the relative risk of lung cancer (LC) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality from exposure to PM2.5 from smoke, we used an existing exposure-response (ER) relationship. We estimated the daily dose of wildfire smoke PM2.5 from measured concentrations of PM4, estimated wildland firefighter breathing rates, daily shift duration (hours per day) and frequency of exposure (fire days per year and career duration). Firefighters who worked 49 days per year were exposed to a daily dose of PM4 that ranged from 0.15 mg to 0.74 mg for a 5- and 25-year career, respectively. The daily dose for firefighters working 98 days per year of PM4 ranged from 0.30 mg to 1.49 mg. Across all exposure scenarios (49 and 98 fire days per year) and career durations (5-25 years), we estimated that wildland firefighters were at an increased risk of LC (8 percent to 43 percent) and CVD (16 percent to 30 percent) mortality. This unique approach assessed long term health risks for wildland firefighters and demonstrated that wildland firefighters have an increased risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Navarro
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Fire and Aviation Management, Clovis, CA, USA
| | - Michael T Kleinman
- Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John R Balmes
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - George A Broyles
- USDA Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Roger D Ottmar
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luke P Naher
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Joseph W Domitrovich
- USDA Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program, Missoula, MT, USA.
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15
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González Martínez M, Dupont C, da Silva Perez D, Míguez-Rodríguez L, Grateau M, Thiéry S, Tamminen T, Meyer XM, Gourdon C. Assessing the suitability of recovering shrub biowaste involved in wildland fires in the South of Europe through torrefaction mobile units. J Environ Manage 2019; 236:551-560. [PMID: 30771674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Several types of shrubs and oak inducing high wildland fire risk in the South of Europe were evaluated for their potential valorization through torrefaction. Biomasses were firstly characterized in terms of macromolecular and elemental composition. Lab-scale TGA-GC/MS torrefaction experiments allowed the in-depth study of the solid mass transformation and the production profile of 23 volatile species (200 to 300 °C at 3 °C·min-1 and 300 °C for 30 min). The proportion of the torrefied products (solid, CO, CO2, water and volatile species) was evaluated through mass balance in a lab-scale furnace under typical torrefaction conditions (300 °C, 40 min). The results show a similar characterization and behavior in torrefaction for oak and shrublands, and slightly different characteristics for fern. However, fern may grow separately from shrublands and is considered to present a low fire risk. This suggests that the in-situ direct valorization of these biomasses through torrefaction mobile units seems promising. However, other properties, such as density, flowability and grindability need to be studied to confirm the feasibility of the process. Regarding torrefaction products, a higher carbon content and an interesting increase in heating value were measured for the torrefied solid, which makes it suitable for energetic valorization, among other uses. The composition of permanent gases was evaluated and found in agreement with previous studies. Finally, the volatile species released were studied in function of the torrefaction temperature, in view of their possible valorization as green chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- María González Martínez
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Laboratoire de Préparation des Bioressources (LPB), F-38000 Grenoble, France; Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, 4 Allée Emile Monso, F-31030 Toulouse, France; CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, F-31030 Toulouse, France.
| | - Capucine Dupont
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Maguelone Grateau
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Laboratoire de Préparation des Bioressources (LPB), F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Sébastien Thiéry
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Laboratoire de Préparation des Bioressources (LPB), F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Tarja Tamminen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland
| | - Xuân-Mi Meyer
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, 4 Allée Emile Monso, F-31030 Toulouse, France; CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, F-31030 Toulouse, France
| | - Christophe Gourdon
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, 4 Allée Emile Monso, F-31030 Toulouse, France; CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, F-31030 Toulouse, France
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16
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Cardil A, Mola-Yudego B, Blázquez-Casado Á, González-Olabarria JR. Fire and burn severity assessment: Calibration of Relative Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR) with field data. J Environ Manage 2019; 235:342-349. [PMID: 30703648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of burn severity is highly important in order to describe and measure the effects of fire on vegetation, wildlife habitat and soils. The estimation of burn severity based on remote sensing is a powerful tool that, to be useful, needs to be related and validated with field data. The present paper explores the relationships between field accessible variables and Relative Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR) index by using linear mixed-effects models and boosted regression trees, based on data from 28 large fires and 668 field measurements across three countries in southern Europe. The RdNBR clearly reflected the mean height of charred stem and loss of ligneous, living shrub and tree cover during the fire. The paper confirms that remote sensing indices provide an acceptable assessment of fire induced impact on forest vegetation but also highlights there are important between-fire variations due to specific contexts that modify these relationships. These variations can be effectively assessed and should be taken into account in future predictive efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cardil
- School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain; Tecnosylva. Parque Tecnológico de León. 24009 León, Spain.
| | - Blas Mola-Yudego
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ángela Blázquez-Casado
- Föra Forest Technologies. Eduardo Saavedra 38. 42004 Soria, Spain; iuFOR Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, Universidad de Valladolid-INIA. Campus Duques de Soria. 42004 Soria, Spain
| | - José Ramón González-Olabarria
- Forest Sciences and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC). Ctra de St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280 Solsona, Spain
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17
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Trauernicht C. Vegetation-Rainfall interactions reveal how climate variability and climate change alter spatial patterns of wildland fire probability on Big Island, Hawaii. Sci Total Environ 2019; 650:459-469. [PMID: 30199690 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The area burned annually by wildland fire in Hawaii has increased fourfold in recent decades. The archipelago's novel fuel types and climatic heterogeneity pose significant challenges for fire risk assessment and fire management. Probability-based fire occurrence models using historical wildfire records provide a means to assess and attribute fire risk in regions of the world like Hawaii where investment in fire science is limited. This research used generalized additive models to 1) assess the relative contribution of vegetation, climate, and human-caused ignitions to the probability of fire in the northwest quadrant of Hawaii Island and 2) compare how landscape flammability varies due to interannual rainfall variability versus projected changes in mean annual rainfall (MAR) and temperature. Annual fire probability was highest for grasslands and peaked at drier conditions (0.04 at 450 mm MAR) when compared with shrublands (0.03 at 650 mm MAR) and forest (0.015 at 600 mm MAR). Excess rainfall the year prior to fire occurrence increased fire risk across grasslands, and thus overall fire probability, more so than drought the year that fire occurred. Drying and warming trends for the region under projected climate change increased maximum values of fire probability by as much as 375% and shifted areas of peak landscape flammability to higher elevation. Model predictions under future climate also indicate the largest changes in landscape flammability will happen by mid-Century. The influence of antecedent wet years on fire risk can improve near-term predictions of fire risk in Hawaii while climate projections indicate that fire management will need to be prioritized at upper elevations where high value natural resources are concentrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clay Trauernicht
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1910 East-West Rd 101, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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18
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McCarty JL, Garbe PL. Where there is smoke: Introduction to the virtual special issue of health impacts of wildland fire smoke exposure - Selected papers from the 2nd International Smoke Symposium. Sci Total Environ 2018; 626:1259-1260. [PMID: 30254384 PMCID: PMC6085831 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul L. Garbe
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
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19
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Robinne FN, Bladon KD, Miller C, Parisien MA, Mathieu J, Flannigan MD. A spatial evaluation of global wildfire-water risks to human and natural systems. Sci Total Environ 2018; 610-611:1193-1206. [PMID: 28851140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The large mediatic coverage of recent massive wildfires across the world has emphasized the vulnerability of freshwater resources. The extensive hydrogeomorphic effects from a wildfire can impair the ability of watersheds to provide safe drinking water to downstream communities and high-quality water to maintain riverine ecosystem health. Safeguarding water use for human activities and ecosystems is required for sustainable development; however, no global assessment of wildfire impacts on water supply is currently available. Here, we provide the first global evaluation of wildfire risks to water security, in the form of a spatially explicit index. We adapted the Driving forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response risk analysis framework to select a comprehensive set of indicators of fire activity and water availability, which we then aggregated to a single index of wildfire-water risk using a simple additive weighted model. Our results show that water security in many regions of the world is potentially vulnerable, regardless of socio-economic status. However, in developing countries, a critical component of the risk is the lack of socio-economic capability to respond to disasters. Our work highlights the importance of addressing wildfire-induced risks in the development of water security policies; the geographic differences in the components of the overall risk could help adapting those policies to different regional contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- François-Nicolas Robinne
- Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
| | - Kevin D Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Carol Miller
- Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, 790 East Beckwith Avenue, Missoula, MT 59801, USA.
| | - Marc-André Parisien
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, 5320-122nd Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 3S5, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Mathieu
- Sorbonne Universities, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, IRD, CNRS, INRA, UPEC, University Paris Diderot Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, iEES Paris, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Mike D Flannigan
- Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
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20
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Schweizer D, Cisneros R, Traina S, Ghezzehei TA, Shaw G. Using National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter to assess regional wildland fire smoke and air quality management. J Environ Manage 2017; 201:345-356. [PMID: 28692834 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Wildland fire is an important ecological process in the California Sierra Nevada. Personal accounts from pre-20th century describe a much smokier environment than present day. The policy of suppression beginning in the early 20th century and climate change are contributing to increased megafires. We use a single particulate monitoring site at the wildland urban interface to explore impacts from prescribed, managed, and full suppression wildland fires from 2006 to 2015 producing a contextual assessment of smoke impacts over time at the landscape level. Prescribed fire had little effect on local fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality with readings typical of similar non-fire times; hourly and daily good to moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5, maximum hourly concentrations 21-103 μg m-3, and mean concentrations between 7.7 and 13.2 μg m-3. Hourly and daily AQI was typically good or moderate during managed fires with 3 h and one day reaching unhealthy while the site remained below National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), with maximum hourly concentrations 27-244 μg m-3, and mean concentrations 6.7-11.7 μg m-3. The large high intensity fire in this area created the highest short term impacts (AQI unhealthy for 4 h and very unhealthy for 1 h), 11 unhealthy for sensitive days, and produced the only annual value (43.9 μg m-3) over the NAAQS 98th percentile for PM2.5 (35 μg m-3). Pinehurst remained below the federal standards for PM2.5 when wildland fire in the local area was managed to 7800 ha (8-22% of the historic burn area). Considering air quality impacts from smoke using the NAAQS at a landscape level over time can give land and air managers a metric for broader evaluation of smoke impacts particularly when assessing ecologically beneficial fire. Allowing managers to control the amount and timing of individual wildland fire emissions can help lessen large smoke impacts to public health from a megafire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Schweizer
- Environmental Systems Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Ricardo Cisneros
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Samuel Traina
- Office of Research, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Teamrat A Ghezzehei
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Glenn Shaw
- Department of Geological Engineering, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, 1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT, 59701, USA.
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21
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Landis MS, Patrick Pancras J, Graney JR, White EM, Edgerton ES, Legge A, Percy KE. Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse particulate matter at the Fort McKay community site, in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. Sci Total Environ 2017; 584-585:105-117. [PMID: 28147291 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
An ambient air particulate matter sampling study was conducted at the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) AMS-1 Fort McKay monitoring station in the Athabasca Oil Sand Region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada from February 2010 to July 2011. Daily 24h integrated fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particulate matter was collected using a sequential dichotomous sampler. Over the duration of the study, 392 valid daily dichotomous PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 sample pairs were collected with concentrations of 6.8±12.9μgm-3 (mean±standard deviation) and 6.9±5.9μgm-3, respectively. A subset of 100 filter pairs was selected for element analysis by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Application of the U.S. EPA positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model to the study data matrix resolved five PM2.5 sources explaining 96% of the mass including oil sands upgrading (32%), fugitive dust (26%), biomass combustion (25%), long-range Asian transport lead source (9%), and winter road salt (4%). An analysis of historical PM2.5 data at this site shows that the impact of smoke from wildland fires was particularly high during the summer of 2011. PMF resolved six PM10-2.5 sources explaining 99% of the mass including fugitive haul road dust (40%), fugitive oil sand (27%), a mixed source fugitive dust (16%), biomass combustion (12%), mobile source (3%), and a local copper factor (1%). Results support the conclusion of a previous epiphytic lichen biomonitor study that near-field atmospheric deposition in the AOSR is dominated by coarse fraction fugitive dust from bitumen mining and upgrading operations, and suggest that fugitive dust abatement strategies targeting the three major sources of PM10-2.5 (e.g., oil sand mining, haul roads, bulk material stockpiles) would significantly reduce near-field atmospheric deposition gradients in the AOSR and reduce ambient PM concentrations in the Fort McKay community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joseph R Graney
- Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Allan Legge
- Biosphere Solutions, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kevin E Percy
- Air Quality Effects Consulting Ltd., Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
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Parker R, Vitalis A, Walker R, Riley D, Pearce HG. Measuring wildland fire fighter performance with wearable technology. Appl Ergon 2017; 59:34-44. [PMID: 27890146 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Wildland (rural) fire fighting is a physically demanding and hazardous occupation. An observational study was conducted to explore the use of new technologies for the field study of fire fighters at wildfires and to understand the work pressures of wildland fire fighting. The research was carried out with two fire fighters at real fires wearing microphones, miniature video cameras, heart rate monitors and GPS units to record their actions and location at wildfire events. The fire fighters were exposed to high physiological workloads (heart rates of up to 180 beats per minute) and walked considerable distances at the fires. Results from this study have been used in presentations to fire fighters and non-operational fire personnel to understand the pressures fire fighters are under and how others complete the fire fighting tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robyn Walker
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Walker A, Pope R, Orr RM. The impact of fire suppression tasks on firefighter hydration: a critical review with consideration of the utility of reported hydration measures. Ann Occup Environ Med 2016; 28:63. [PMID: 27891237 PMCID: PMC5111227 DOI: 10.1186/s40557-016-0152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Firefighting is a highly stressful occupation with unique physical challenges, apparel and environments that increase the potential for dehydration. Dehydration leaves the firefighter at risk of harm to their health, safety and performance. The purpose of this review was to critically analyse the current literature investigating the impact of fighting ‘live’ fires on firefighter hydration. Methods A systematic search was performed of four electronic databases for relevant published studies investigating the impact of live fire suppression on firefighter hydration. Study eligibility was assessed using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included studies were critically appraised using the Downs and Black protocol and graded according to the Kennelly grading system. Results Ten studies met the eligibility criteria for this review. The average score for methodological quality was 55 %, ranging from 50 % (‘fair’ quality) to 61 % (‘good’ quality) with a ‘substantial agreement’ between raters (k = .772). Wildfire suppression was considered in five studies and structural fire suppression in five studies. Results varied across the studies, reflecting variations in outcome measures, hydration protocols and interventions. Three studies reported significant indicators of dehydration resulting from structural fire suppression, while two studies found mixed results, with some measures indicating dehydration and other measures an unchanged hydration status. Three studies found non-significant changes in hydration resulting from wildfire firefighting and two studies found significant improvements in markers of hydration. Ad libitum fluid intake was a common factor across the studies finding no, or less severe, dehydration. Conclusions The evidence confirms that structural and wildfire firefighting can cause dehydration. Ad libitum drinking may be sufficient to maintain hydration in many wildfire environments but possibly not during intense, longer duration, hot structural fire operations. Future high quality research better quantifying the effects of these influences on the degree of dehydration is required to inform policies and procedures that ensure firefighter health and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Walker
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226 Australia
| | - Rodney Pope
- Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226 Australia
| | - Robin Marc Orr
- Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226 Australia
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Davies GM, Legg CJ. Regional variation in fire weather controls the reported occurrence of Scottish wildfires. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2649. [PMID: 27833814 PMCID: PMC5101601 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fire is widely used as a traditional habitat management tool in Scotland, but wildfires pose a significant and growing threat. The financial costs of fighting wildfires are significant and severe wildfires can have substantial environmental impacts. Due to the intermittent occurrence of severe fire seasons, Scotland, and the UK as a whole, remain somewhat unprepared. Scotland currently lacks any form of Fire Danger Rating system that could inform managers and the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) of periods when there is a risk of increased of fire activity. We aimed evaluate the potential to use outputs from the Canadian Fire Weather Index system (FWI system) to forecast periods of increased fire risk and the potential for ignitions to turn into large wildfires. We collated four and a half years of wildfire data from the Scottish FRS and examined patterns in wildfire occurrence within different regions, seasons, between urban and rural locations and according to FWI system outputs. We used a variety of techniques, including Mahalanobis distances, percentile analysis and Thiel-Sen regression, to scope the best performing FWI system codes and indices. Logistic regression showed significant differences in fire activity between regions, seasons and between urban and rural locations. The Fine Fuel Moisture Code and the Initial Spread Index did a tolerable job of modelling the probability of fire occurrence but further research on fuel moisture dynamics may provide substantial improvements. Overall our results suggest it would be prudent to ready resources and avoid managed burning when FFMC > 75 and/or ISI > 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University , Columbus , OH , United States of America
| | - Colin J Legg
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , Scotland , United Kingdom
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Schweizer D, Cisneros R. Wildland fire management and air quality in the southern Sierra Nevada: using the Lion Fire as a case study with a multi-year perspective on PM(2.5) impacts and fire policy. J Environ Manage 2014; 144:265-278. [PMID: 24973615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Management of fire is an important and controversial policy issue. Active fire suppression has led to a backlog of fuels, limited the ecological benefits of fire, and reduced short-term smoke impacts likely delaying these emissions to future generations over a larger spatial extent. Smoke impacts can be expected to increase as fire size and intensity increase and the fuel backlog is consumed; whether through reintroduction of fire under desirable conditions or through stand replacing fire. Land Management Agencies would like to increase the use of naturally ignited fires to burn during favorable conditions as a way to reduce catastrophic fires. This study provides information about the levels of air quality impacts expected from these types of fires and discusses some of the policy controversies of managed fire that propagate inconsistencies between agencies and enter the public discourse. The Lion Fire, a primarily low intensity 8,370 ha fire that was extensively monitored for Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), is used to quantify impacts to air quality. PM2.5 monitoring sites are used to assess exposure, public health impacts, and subsequently quantify annual air quality during a year with a fire that is within the historic normal fire size and intensity for this area. Ground level PM2.5 impacts were found to be localized with 99% of the hourly Air Quality Index readings in the moderate or good category for the sites impacted by the fire. PM2.5 concentrations at sites nearest the fire were below annual federal air quality standards for PM2.5 with annual 98th percentile at the most impacted sites (Johnsondale, Kernville, and Camp Nelson) of 35.0, 34.0, and 28.0 μg m(-3) respectively. Smoke impacts to PM2.5 concentrations were not found to reach the populated Central Valley. The findings suggest that this type of fire can be implemented with minimal public health impacts thus allowing an opportunity for air and fire managers to alter policy to allow additional burning in an area with severe anthropogenic air pollution and where frequent widespread fire is both beneficial and inevitable. The more extensive air quality impacts documented with large high intensity fire may be averted by embracing the use of fire to prevent unwanted high intensity burns. A widespread increase in the use of fire for ecological benefit may provide the resiliency needed in Sierra Nevada forests as well as be the most beneficial to public health through the reduction of single dose exposure to smoke and limiting impacts spatially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Schweizer
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
| | - Ricardo Cisneros
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
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26
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Rideout DB, Ziesler PS, Kernohan NJ. Valuing fire planning alternatives in forest restoration: using derived demand to integrate economics with ecological restoration. J Environ Manage 2014; 141:190-200. [PMID: 24878985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the value of fire planning alternatives is challenging because fire affects a wide array of ecosystem, market, and social values. Wildland fire management is increasingly used to address forest restoration while pragmatic approaches to assessing the value of fire management have yet to be developed. Earlier approaches to assessing the value of forest management relied on connecting site valuation with management variables. While sound, such analysis is too narrow to account for a broad range of ecosystem services. The metric fire regime condition class (FRCC) was developed from ecosystem management philosophy, but it is entirely biophysical. Its lack of economic information cripples its utility to support decision-making. We present a means of defining and assessing the deviation of a landscape from its desired fire management condition by re-framing the fire management problem as one of derived demand. This valued deviation establishes a performance metric for wildland fire management. Using a case study, we display the deviation across a landscape and sum the deviations to produce a summary metric. This summary metric is used to assess the value of alternative fire management strategies on improving the fire management condition toward its desired state. It enables us to identify which sites are most valuable to restore, even when they are in the same fire regime condition class. The case study site exemplifies how a wide range of disparate values, such as watershed, wildlife, property and timber, can be incorporated into a single landscape assessment. The analysis presented here leverages previous research on environmental capital value and non-market valuation by integrating ecosystem management, restoration, and microeconomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Rideout
- WESTFIRE Research Center, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, 80523, USA.
| | - Pamela S Ziesler
- WESTFIRE Research Center, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, 80523, USA
| | - Nicole J Kernohan
- WESTFIRE Research Center, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, 80523, USA
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