As fires burn the landscape, they spew airborne gases and particles, though their impact on air pollution might be underestimated. A study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology reports that, around the world, wildfires and prescribed burns (i.e., wildland fires) could emit substantially more gases, including ones that contribute to air pollution, than previously thought. The researchers identified several regions with high wildland fire and human activity emissions, which may pose complex air-quality challenges.

“Our new estimates increase the organic compound emissions from wildland fires by about 21%,” says Lyuyin Huang, the first author of the study. “The inventory provides a foundation for more detailed air-quality modeling, health-risk assessment and climate-related policy analysis.”

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