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

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Listed:
  • Marta Oliveira

    (REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal)

  • Cristina Delerue-Matos

    (REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal)

  • Maria Carmo Pereira

    (LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Simone Morais

    (REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

This work characterizes the dimension and the exceptionality of 2017 large- and mega-fires that occurred in the center region of Portugal through the assessment of their impact on the ambient levels of particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ), retrieved from local monitoring stations, and the associated public health risks. PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations were increased during the occurrence of large fires and megafires, with daily concentrations exceeding the European/national guidelines in 7–14 and 1–12 days of 2017 (up to 704 µg/m 3 for PM 10 and 46 µg/m 3 for PM 2.5 ), respectively. PM 10 concentrations were correlated with total burned area (0.500 < r < 0.949; p > 0.05) and with monthly total burned area/distance 2 (0.500 < r < 0.667; p > 0.05). The forest fires of 2017 took the life of 112 citizens. A total of 474 cases of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases and 3524 cases of asthma incidence symptoms per 100,000 individuals at risk were assessed due to exposure to 2017 forest fires. Real-time and in situ PM methodologies should be combined with protection action plans to reduce public health risks. Portuguese rural stations should monitor other health-relevant pollutants (e.g., carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds) released from wildfires to allow performing more robust and comprehensive measurements that will allow a better assessment of the potential health risks for the exposed populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Oliveira & Cristina Delerue-Matos & Maria Carmo Pereira & Simone Morais, 2020. "Environmental Particulate Matter Levels during 2017 Large Forest Fires and Megafires in the Center Region of Portugal: A Public Health Concern?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:1032-:d:317347
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jia Coco Liu & Loretta J. Mickley & Melissa P. Sulprizio & Francesca Dominici & Xu Yue & Keita Ebisu & Georgiana Brooke Anderson & Rafi F. A. Khan & Mercedes A. Bravo & Michelle L. Bell, 2016. "Particulate air pollution from wildfires in the Western US under climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 138(3), pages 655-666, October.
    2. Hassani Youssouf & Catherine Liousse & Laurent Roblou & Eric-Michel Assamoi & Raimo O. Salonen & Cara Maesano & Soutrik Banerjee & Isabella Annesi-Maesano, 2014. "Non-Accidental Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-33, November.
    3. Bruno M. Meneses & Eusébio Reis & Rui Reis, 2018. "Assessment of the recurrence interval of wildfires in mainland Portugal and the identification of affected LUC patterns," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(2), pages 282-292, November.
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    1. Emily Heaney & Laura Hunter & Angus Clulow & Devin Bowles & Sotiris Vardoulakis, 2021. "Efficacy of Communication Techniques and Health Outcomes of Bushfire Smoke Exposure: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Marta Gea & Sara Bonetta & Daniele Marangon & Francesco Antonio Pitasi & Caterina Armato & Giorgio Gilli & Fabrizio Bert & Marco Fontana & Tiziana Schilirò, 2021. "In Vitro Effects of Particulate Matter Associated with a Wildland Fire in the North-West of Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Joana V. Barbosa & Rafael A. O. Nunes & Maria C. M. Alvim-Ferraz & Fernando G. Martins & Sofia I. V. Sousa, 2022. "Health and Economic Burden of the 2017 Portuguese Extreme Wildland Fires on Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, January.

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