Bushfires affects communities in two ways, health impacts and infrastructure impacts.
Health impacts:
Health impacts:
- During bushfires a wide range of air contaminants are released and rural communities can be effected.
- If communities are exposed there can be many health effects.
- Air Toxins in Bushfire smoke
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Nitrogen(N) and sulphur(S) based compounds
- Aldehydes(R-CHO)
- Volatile and semi-volatile compounds
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Dioxins (C4H4O2)
- Organic acids
- Free radicals and ozone
- Health Outcomes
- Mortality
- Increased incidents of asthma exacerbation and respiratory disease
- Changes in lung functions
- Increase of cardiopulmonary symptoms
- Upper respiratory illness
- Mucous membrane irritation