A new study shows that many new asthma cases in children can be traced back to particulate matter pollution with PM2.5 and, for example, the particulatesof a forest fire can trigger asthma. If the limits recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) were adhered to, more than one in ten cases of asthma could be avoided. With really "clean air", even one in three cases could be avoided. More on allergic asthma in general and on children's asthma.
Since the particulates particles of size PM2.5, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, are very small and very light, they remain in the air longer and can be easily inhaled. Children are particularly vulnerable in this context because their immune system and respiratory tract are still developing. They also tend to spend significantly more time outdoors, which means they are exposed to particulate matter for longer. In addition, physical activity outdoors causes up to five times more pollutants to be inhaled.
If - for example due to forest fires - the concentration of particulates rises to a level that is harmful to health, asthmatics experience more symptoms and require more medication. The risk of having to be hospitalised due to an asthmatic attack also increases on such days.
Just how far the wind carries the air contaminated with particulates was demonstrated at the end of June 2019 when a fire broke out on a former military training area in Lübtheen (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). Of the total 6,200 hectares of forest area, between 1,200 and 1,300 hectares were affected by the fire. The overgrown forest paths and the contamination from old ammunition massively delayed the fire-fighting work. The fire department spent many days containing this devastating forest fire. During this time, the concentration of particulate matter in the surrounding area rose exorbitantly as a result of the fire.
Exceeding of particulates limits due to forest fire
On some days, the north wind carried the forest fireparticulatesfrom the area of the forest fire far inland. Even in Leipzig - about 300 kilometres away from Lübtheen - the smell of burning was clearly noticeable and caused many worried calls to the fire brigade. The high level of particulate matter was also clearly registered by air-Q: Already in the early morning hours of 1 July, air-Q recorded values in the particle sizes PM10 and PM2.5 that far exceeded the daily limit values of 50 μm/m³ and 25 μm/m³ set by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the WHO, respectively.
The dry year 2018 was also the year in which the most forest fires were recorded since records began. The loss of ecosystems leads to further desertification of landscapes as well as a dramatic reduction in CO₂ conversion through photosynthesis. This further intensifies climate change. And so ultimately a fatal cycle results, to which our lungs also fall victim through additional cases of asthma.
(Image: unsplash/ Matt Howard)
