Impact of fires on air quality

Fires are extremely dangerous, especially on such a large scale as recently occurred in Greece and Turkey. As a result, huge amounts of dangerous and harmful substances are released into the atmosphere, which pollute the air. Find out what the causes of fires can be, what effect they have on air quality and how you can protect yourself from air pollution caused by fire.

Causes of fires

It might seem that the main cause of fires are natural phenomena, but most often they are caused by direct or indirect human activity. The causes of fires include:

• deliberate arson
• human carelessness
• defects and damages to electrical installations
• weather conditions (heat, low humidity, lightning strikes)
• improper storage of hazardous substances
• spontaneous combustion of materials (hay, feed)

Impact of fires on air quality

Fires release huge amounts of harmful substances into the atmosphere. They destroy forest biomass, including trees, which causes the carbon dioxide absorbed and stored in them to enter the atmosphere. Its large presence adversely affects our climate and may intensify global warming. In addition to carbon dioxide, other combustion products are also emitted into the atmosphere, including:

• carbon monoxide
• nitrogen oxides
• hydrocarbons
• sulfur compounds
• solid and liquid particles
• volatile particles (e.g. formaldehyde)

How to protect yourself from the negative impact of fires on your health

Fires and the smoke they produce are a major threat to our health. People who are in close proximity to a fire are exposed to inhaling harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, methane, and formaldehyde. Even more dangerous are suspended dusts, whose microscopic particles can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream (in the case of suspended dusts, P2.5). In order to protect yourself from polluted air, it is best to stay at home as much as possible and take care of sealing windows and doors. Air purifiers will be helpful, which will take care of the quality of the air you breathe in closed rooms. Air purifiers most often use HEPA filters, which are characterized by high efficiency. These filters perfectly capture solid particles, dust, allergens, mold spores, pollen and smog - they also capture highly harmful suspended dust PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. What's more, they are also effective in removing some bacteria and viruses. However, when we have to go outside to protect ourselves from polluted air, it is worth using highly effective anti-smog masks.