Summary- Wildfires are once again occurring in California.
- The article explains how "the fast-moving Thomas fire along has burned more than 65,000 acres in three days." - State agencies are "issuing air quality alerts" because of all the smoke that is created. - It is necessary that individuals understand why smoke is so dangerous and how to protect themselves when a wildfire occurs. - Wildfires are once again occurring in California. - The article explains how "the fast-moving Thomas fire along has burned more than 65,000 acres in three days." - State agencies are "issuing air quality alerts" because of all the smoke that is created. - It is necessary that individuals understand why smoke is so dangerous and how to protect themselves when a wildfire occurs. - Wildfire smoke is a mixture of "carbon monoxide, volatile organic carbon, and particles that include alkaline ash, black carbon, and organic carbon." - It usually contains "polyaromatic hydrocarbon," which are best known as a cancer-causing agent. - The longest an individual is exposed to pollutants from wood smoke, there is a higher risk that they will develop multiple diseases that are related to smoke. - Air pollution created from wildfires may "threaten people who are far downwind." - Individuals should protect themselves by staying as far as possible from the smoke. - Those that live in the area should close all windows and doors. |
The Health Risks of Breathing Smoke from California's WildfiresFacts- "Wood smoke contains a mixture of microscopic droplets and particles and invisible gases that spread downwind from the fire source."
- Wood smoke comes from different fuel sources such as "mature trees, dried leaves, forest litter, and local homes." - To protect yourself, you must use a "portable high-efficiency filter device, often marketed as HEPA, that can remove indoor air pollution but often are too small to be effective for an entire house." - Best personal face mask respirators are the N95-certified respirator, "which is designed to protect workers from hazardous exposures on the job." - "Smoke tends to become more diluted with distance from the source." - One of the only ways that the air can stop being polluted from this wildfires are rainfalls that will come from the atmosphere, but unfortunately, it can takes days, weeks, or months. |
Key Terms- Wildfires: A large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush.
- Air pollution: The presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. - Polyaromatic hydrocarbon: Hydrocarbons, organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen—that are composed of multiple aromatic rings (organic rings in which the electrons are delocalized). - Rainfall: The quantity of rain falling within a given area in a given time. - Atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet. - Carbon monoxide: A colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon. - Volatile organic carbon: Chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. - Alkaline ash: Based on the residue left on combustion rather than the acidity of the food. - Black carbon: It consists of pure carbon in several linked forms. - Organic carbon: The amount of carbon found in an organic compound and is often used as a non-specific indicator of water quality or cleanliness of pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. |
Opinion
Throughout time, scientists have realized that 10% of wildfires are caused by lighting or lava BUT almost 90% of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. But how? some of them are caused by "campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, negligently discarded cigarettes and international acts of arson." Unfortunately, wildfires have been occurring recently in California, many have asked themselves "How did the California wildfires start?" We, humans, do not know yet but is clear that is has been spreading around which has created more catastrophes in California. Powerful winds, in this case, "The Santa Ana winds," are more unusual than ever since it has been increasing a lot which causes the fire to expand more. Unfortunately, these wildfires are destroying the lives of many individuals. Not only individuals are losing their property, but also their life because there have been individuals that are found dead. Multiple people have died because of the burns created by the fire and diseases. For example, wildfires create air pollution which causes numerous illness such as "ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infections in children." In order for humans to stop or try to prevent wildfires from occurring, they must avoid burning when there are a lot of winds happening and most importantly, keep a fire retardant or water near in case to keep fires away.