Dataset Information

Influence of uncertainties in burned area estimates on modeled wildland fire PM2.5 and ozone pollution in the contiguous U.S.

ABSTRACT: Wildland fires are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the most harmful ambient pollutants for human health globally. To represent the influence of wildland fire emissions on atmospheric composition, regional and global chemical transport models rely on emission inventories developed from estimates of burned area (i.e. fire size and location). While different methods of estimating annual burned area agree reasonably well in the western U.S. (within 20-30% for most years during 2002-2014), estimates for the southern U.S. can vary by more than a factor of 5. These differences in burned area lead to significant variability in the spatial and temporal allocation of emissions across fire emission inventory platforms. In this work, we implement wildland fire emission estimates for 2011 from three different products - the USEPA National Emission Inventory (NEI), the Fire Inventory of NCAR (FINN), and the Global Fire Emission Database (GFED4s) - into the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to quantify and characterize differences in simulated PM and ozone concentrations across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) due to the fire emission inventory used. The NEI is developed specifically for the U.S., while both FINN and GFED4s are available globally. We find that NEI emissions lead to the largest increases in modeled annual average PM2.5 (0.85 ?g m-3) and April-September maximum daily 8-h ozone (0.28 ppb) nationally compared to a "no fire" baseline, followed by FINN (0.33 ?g m-3 and 0.22 ppb) and GFED4s (0.12 ?g m-3 and 0.17 ppb). Annual mean enhancements in wildland fire pollution are highest in the southern U.S. across all three inventories (over 4 ?g m-3 and 2 ppb in some areas), but show considerable spatial variability within these regions. We also examine the representation of five individual fire events during 2011 and find that of the two global inventories, FINN reproduces more of the acute changes in pollutant concentrations modeled with NEI and shown in surface observations during each of the episodes investigated compared to GFED4s. Understanding the sensitivity of modeling fire-related PM2.5 and ozone in the U.S. to burned area estimation approaches will inform future efforts to assess the implications of present and future fire activity for air quality and human health at national and global scales.

SUBMITTER: Koplitz SN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6476193 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Influence of uncertainties in burned area estimates on modeled wildland fire PM<sub>2.5</sub> and ozone pollution in the contiguous U.S.

Koplitz Shannon N SN Nolte Christopher G CG Pouliot George A GA Vukovich Jeffrey M JM Beidler James J

Atmospheric environment (Oxford, England : 1994) 20180101

Wildland fires are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), one of the most harmful ambient pollutants for human health globally. To represent the influence of wildland fire emissions on atmospheric composition, regional and global chemical transport models rely on emission inventories developed from estimates of burned area (i.e. fire size and location). While different methods of estimating annual burned area agree reasonably well in the western U.S. (within 20-30% for mos ...[more]

PMID: 31019376

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Project description:Chiang Mai encounters severe pollution during the wildfire season. Wildland firefighters encounter various hazards while engaged in fire suppression operations, which encompass significant exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollutants resulting from combustion, especially particulate matter. The adverse effects of wildfire smoke on respiratory health are a significant concern. The objective of this study was to examine the potential adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure on the respiratory function and DNA damage of wildland firefighters. This prospective cohort study conducted in Chiang Mai from January to May 2022 planned to evaluate the health status of wildland firefighters during the pre-peak, peak, and post-peak ambient air pollution seasons. The measurement of PM2.5 was done at every forest fire station, as well as utilizing data from the Pollution Control Department. Participants received general health examinations, spirometry evaluations, and blood tests for DNA damage analysis. Pair t-tests and multiple regression models were used to examine the connection between pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1) and PM2.5 concentration, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Thirty-three peak-season and twenty-one post-peak-season participants were enrolled. Four pre-peak-season wildland firefighters had FVC and FEV1 declines of > 15%. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative association between PM2.5 exposure and FVC% predicted (- 2.81%, 95% CI - 5.27 to - 0.34%, P = 0.027) and a marginally significant negative correlation with FVC (- 114.38 ml, 95% CI - 230.36 to 1.59 ml, P = 0.053). The remaining pulmonary measures showed a statistically insignificant decline. There were no significant changes in DNA damage detected. Wildland firefighters suffered a significant decline in pulmonary function associated with PM2.5 exposure. Spirometry is crucial for monitoring and promptly identifying respiratory issues that occur during wildfire seasons. Further research is recommended to explore DNA damage alterations and their potential association with PM2.5.

Project description:IntroductionDespite the London Underground (LU) handling on average 2.8 million passenger journeys per day, the characteristics and potential health effects of the elevated concentrations of metal-rich PM2.5 found in this subway system are not well understood.MethodsSpatial monitoring campaigns were carried out to characterise the health-relevant chemical and physical properties of PM2.5 across the LU network, including diurnal and day-to-day variability and spatial distribution (above ground, depth below ground and subway line). Population-weighted station PM2.5 rankings were produced to understand the relative importance of concentrations at different stations and on different lines.ResultsThe PM2.5 mass in the LU (mean 88 μg m-3, median 28 μg m-3) was greater than at ambient background locations (mean 19 μg m-3, median 14 μg m-3) and roadside environments in central London (mean 22 μg m-3, median 14 μg m-3). Concentrations varied between lines and locations, with the deepest and shallowest submerged lines being the District (median 4 μg m-3) and Victoria (median 361 μg m-3 but up to 885 μg m-3). Broadly in agreement with other subway systems around the world, sampled LU PM2.5 comprised 47% iron oxide, 7% elemental carbon, 11% organic carbon, and 14% metallic and mineral oxides. Although a relationship between line depth and air quality inside the tube trains was evident, there were clear influences relating to the distance from cleaner outside air and the exchange with cabin air when the doors open. The passenger population-weighted exposure analysis demonstrated a method to identify stations that should be prioritised for remediation to improve air quality.ConclusionPM2.5 concentrations in the LU are many times higher than in other London transport Environments. Failure to include this environment in epidemiological studies of the relationship between PM2.5 and health in London is therefore likely to lead to a large exposure misclassification error. Given the significant contribution of underground PM2.5 to daily exposure, and the differences in composition compared to urban PM2.5, there is a clear need for well-designed studies to better understand the health effects of underground exposure.

Dataset Information

Influence of uncertainties in burned area estimates on modeled wildland fire PM2.5 and ozone pollution in the contiguous U.S.

Publications

Influence of uncertainties in burned area estimates on modeled wildland fire PM<sub>2.5</sub> and ozone pollution in the contiguous U.S.

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