School of STEM and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA.
PNW Research Station, U.S. Forest Service , Seattle WA, USA.
J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2020 Jun;70(6):583-615. doi: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1749731.
Air quality impacts from wildfires have been dramatic in recent years, with millions of people exposed to elevated and sometimes hazardous fine particulate matter (PM ) concentrations for extended periods. Fires emit particulate matter (PM) and gaseous compounds that can negatively impact human health and reduce visibility. While the overall trend in U.S. air quality has been improving for decades, largely due to implementation of the Clean Air Act, seasonal wildfires threaten to undo this in some regions of the United States. Our understanding of the health effects of smoke is growing with regard to respiratory and cardiovascular consequences and mortality. The costs of these health outcomes can exceed the billions already spent on wildfire suppression. In this critical review, we examine each of the processes that influence wildland fires and the effects of fires, including the natural role of wildland fire, forest management, ignitions, emissions, transport, chemistry, and human health impacts. We highlight key data gaps and examine the complexity and scope and scale of fire occurrence, estimated emissions, and resulting effects on regional air quality across the United States. The goal is to clarify which areas are well understood and which need more study. We conclude with a set of recommendations for future research.
In the recent decade the area of wildfires in the United States has increased dramatically and the resulting smoke has exposed millions of people to unhealthy air quality. In this critical review we examine the key factors and impacts from fires including natural role of wildland fire, forest management, ignitions, emissions, transport, chemistry and human health.
近年来，野火对空气质量的影响巨大，数以百万计的人长期暴露在升高的、有时甚至是危险的细颗粒物 (PM) 浓度下。火灾会排放颗粒物 (PM) 和气态化合物，这些物质会对人类健康产生负面影响，并降低能见度。尽管几十年来美国的空气质量总体趋势一直在改善，这主要得益于《清洁空气法案》的实施，但季节性野火有可能使美国一些地区的这一趋势发生逆转。我们对烟雾对健康的影响的理解正在不断深入，包括其对呼吸和心血管系统的影响以及死亡率。这些健康后果的代价可能超过已经用于扑灭野火的数十亿美元。在这篇重要的综述中，我们检查了影响野火和火灾的各个过程及其影响，包括野火的自然作用、森林管理、点火、排放、传输、化学和人类健康影响。我们突出了关键的数据差距，并研究了火灾发生的复杂性、范围和规模、排放量估计以及对美国各地区域空气质量的影响。目的是阐明哪些领域已经得到充分理解，哪些领域需要进一步研究。最后我们提出了一系列未来研究的建议。
在过去的十年中，美国的野火面积急剧增加，由此产生的烟雾使数百万人暴露在不健康的空气质量中。在这篇重要的综述中，我们检查了火灾的关键因素和影响，包括野火的自然作用、森林管理、点火、排放、传输、化学和人类健康。
