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Volume 8
Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology
Environment and Health Congress 2018
July 11-12, 2018
July 11-12, 2018 Sydney, Australia
World Congress on
Environmental Toxicology and Health
The air pollution caused by wildland fires and the effects on health
Jaime Senabre
1,2
1
SINIF, Spain
2
University of Alicante, Spain
W
ildland fires are a source of polluting emissions into the atmosphere whose main origin is anthropogenic, as is amply
demonstrated by causality studies and statistics. Air pollution by such disturbance is due to combustion of forest biomass
that mainly generates CO
2
and H
2
O, and other inorganic and organic gases, and particles. During fires, and by the action of fire,
the ordinary characteristics of both the fuel and the oxidizer are modified, being able to change state and suffering different
reactions at the molecular level. The composition and molecular structure of the combustion gases, the concentration or dose
received and the exposure time act as modulators of the possible effects on the health of the exposed persons. The harmful
substances of a forest fire penetrate the body, mainly through the respiratory tract and the skin. According to recent research,
in Spain it is estimated that there are about 17% of the population living less than 5 km from a source that emits carcinogenic
substances. There are areas of the country which has been detected excess mortality from leukemia and certain cancers, such
as those related to the digestive, respiratory, prostate, breast, ovarian and gallbladder. These findings have been related to cities
or municipalities with high industrial activity. There seems to be little doubt about the association of the effects of industrial
pollution and the development of certain types of cancer. In our study, we evaluated the relationship between the areas of Spain
with the most industrial pollution and the areas with the highest prevalence of wildland fires, in order to determine if forest
fires may be contributing: First, to an impoverishment of the quality of the air we breathe; second, an increase in vulnerability
and a greater risk to the health of people.
Biography
Jaime Senabre is a Psychologist and Environmental Consultant. He has completed his Doctoral studies in the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological
Treatment of the UNED. He was Chief of Brigade in a Forest Fire Service with more than 20 years of experience. He collaborates with several companies and
institutions in the area of training in psychology in emergencies and human resources. He is a Professor at the University of Valencia, Director and President of the
International Scientific-Professional Committee of the National Symposium on Forest Fires (SINIF). He has published articles on forest fires, stress, psychosocial
risks and emotional trauma, mainly in relation to emergency services and natural disasters. Currently, he is assigned to the Research Group on Climate and Territorial
Planning at University of Alicante, where he researches on the social perception of forest fire risk and behavior in the event of possible disasters.
jasenabre@sinif.esJaime Senabre, J Environ Anal Toxicol 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2161-0525-C1-011