Smoke and ash deconstructed - Not just particles (20m Lecture)

image: www.forestry.ok.gov

Smoke and ash are not homogenous products; they contain a complex mixture of chemical products as a result of incomplete combustion. The fire that causes smoke and ash is non-discriminatory in that it will burn anything that can combust. Smoke content varies dependent on its source, but it usually comprises hot gases and suspended particles of carbon, tarry substances, or soot and trace elements.

The health effects of smoke and ash are not just limited to acute symptoms such as eyes, throat and lung irritation. They also contribute to increases in asthma and cardiovascular disease rates and contribute to cancers. Not only is there a community risk, smoke and ash also presents an occupational safety and health risk to people responding to the smoke and ash related incident.

This presentation will describe the components of smoke and provide a summary analysis on the literature relating to heavy metal exposure during the release of smoke from bushfires and prescribed burns. The preliminary results of the PhD study will be presented to provide an insight into the little known aspect that is the release of heavy metals from prescribed burns and bushfires.