Climate change is leading to more and more forest fires, which are more severe and last longer. But in addition to the great environmental damage caused by these natural disasters, a study by McGill University (Canada) has revealed that it also affects people who live near these lands, since it increases the risk of developing lung cancer and brain tumors.
Specifically, research published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health has found that having a home within 50 kilometers of an area where there has been a forest fire in the last 10 years increased the odds of developing a brain tumor and a 4.9% incidence of lung cancer, compared with those who lived farther from the environmental disaster.
The study took into account the health data of more than two million Canadians, some of whom lived near areas that had suffered a wildfire, and collected information on the participants for as many as 20 years, with the aim to find out if this type of ecological problem had any effect on people’s health.
Fires also pollute water and soil
And it is that forest fires tend to occur in similar areas each year, so people who live nearby are more exposed to pollutants resulting from fires. “Many of the pollutants emitted by wildfires are known human carcinogens, suggesting that exposure could increase the risk of cancer in humans,” said Jill Korsiak, lead researcher.
As a consequence of fires, some chemicals such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons can persist in the environment for years.
To the impact on air quality, we must add that these forest fires also contaminate water and soil, which, although many return to normal after some time has passed after the catastrophe, other chemical products may still be present in the environment. environment for years, such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons.
The researchers have emphasized that their results are very important to be able to establish a more defined action plan in the areas where forest fires usually occur, in order to prevent them and also to be able to protect the people who live in the nearby land.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, especially lung cancer. For this reason, the authors believe that more studies should be carried out to better understand the environmental pollutants that are released during forest fires and to know how it could affect people’s health in the longer term.
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