Sunday August 14, 2005
People at risk
MANY recent studies have indicated that levels of air pollution currently measured in most urban areas in the world are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes.
In nearly all cases, the studies indicate an association between particle air pollution and increased risk of death, primarily in the elderly and in individuals with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiac illness.
Recent studies have also suggested an association between particulates and infant mortality.
These data strongly suggest that any combustion-source particulate air pollution, including that produced during forest fires (biomass smoke), is associated with a whole range of adverse health outcomes.
Specific studies of exposure to biomass smoke indicate a consistent relationship between exposure and increased respiratory symptoms, increased risk of respiratory illness and decreased lung function. These studies have mainly been focused on children, although the few studies which evaluated adults also showed similar results.
By analogy to the findings of numerous studies associating increased mortality with urban particulate air pollution mixtures, there is no evidence that particles from different combustion sources have different impacts on health, while particles generated by natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and windblown soil do appear to have less of an impact on health.
Therefore, there is little reason to expect that biomass smoke would be any less harmful than other combustion-source particles and it is prudent to consider that “haze” exposure will also be related to increased mortality.
It is not possible at this time to determine the long-term effect, if any, from a single air pollution episode, although repeated yearly occurrences of haze should be cause for serious concern.
The available, although limited, data on biomass smoke and cancer do not indicate an increased risk even at very high levels of exposure. However, while biomass smoke clearly is potentially carcinogenic, it is much less so than motor vehicle exhaust.
Extracted from: Michael Brauer, ScD; Health Impacts of Biomass Air pollution; Report Prepared For The Biregional Workshop On Health Impacts Of Haze-Related Air Pollution, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 1-4, 1998;www.cher.ubc.ca/PDFs/biomass_air.pdf
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Mask this smell
Mitigation measures
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