Wildfires can release the toxic, cancer-causing 'Erin Brockovich' chemical, study says
USA TodayDec 12, 2023
According to research released on Tuesday, wildfires in California may be releasing and spreading the cancer-causing toxic compound chromium-6..
In the study published in Nature Communications, higher levels of a hazardous form of the metal chromium were found at wildfire sites with chromium-rich soils compared to the unburned sites nearby. Researchers found that in chromium-rich areas where vegetation caused fires to burn at high heat for significant periods, the chromium-6 concentrations were nearly seven times higher than in unburned areas, increasing the risk that the toxin could become airborne.
As climate change causes more frequent, and more severe wildfires the issue of harmful chromium-6 pollution will likely be exacerbated. Wildfire smoke and ash inhalation is already a known public health risk, but the additional knowledge of the risks and threats posed by chromium-6 is even more worrying.
Wildfires have always existed and to attribute the fires and their health impacts solely to climate change is alarmist and untrue. Over the last 20 years, the area burned annually by fires has trended downwards. Poor land management rather than climate change is the more likely culprit for these deadly blazes.