Canadian scientists from the universities of Waterloo and Nipissing have found that the country experienced a large release of arsenic into the environment due to wildfires in the summer of 2023. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Environmental Research Letters (ERS).
According to experts, four forest fires that broke out in the northern city of Yellowknife have released into the atmosphere up to half the amount of arsenic released annually by forest fires worldwide (69 to 183 tonnes), a toxic substance.
The amount of arsenic released by fires depends on many factors, including the temperature of the fire, the depth of the fire and the type of soil, and a combination of these variables.
Arsenic is a powerful toxin and carcinogen that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and several types of cancer.
The researchers found that arsenic emissions from wetlands are of greatest concern because of their propensity to accumulate pollutants compared to forests.
Experts say the unprecedented emission of a toxic compound near Yellowknife is due to contamination of the local environment with waste from the local mining industry.
Earlier scientists to create The link between wildfires and ozone levels in the atmosphere.
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Source: Gazeta
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