New research from Stanford University has uncovered a concerning revelation: wildfires have the potential to convert a typically benign metal in soils into toxic particles, with chromium transforming into the cancer-causing and readily airborne metal known as chromium 6. The study, published in Nature Communications on December 12, highlights the overlooked hazard of airborne metals, such as chromium, during and after wildfires.
Smoke plumes from wildfires are known to carry hazardous air pollutants, including gases, organic aerosols, and fine particulate matter, impacting respiratory health and potentially leading to asthma attacks and other health issues. However, the study emphasizes that the risks associated with metals like chromium have received less attention from scientists and regulators.
The research, conducted by Professor Mary Daly and her team at Stanford’s Department of Social Policy and Intervention, indicates that more attention needs to be directed toward wildfire-modified chromium and other metals to comprehensively understand the threats wildfires pose to human health.
Lead study author Alandra Lopez, a postdoctoral scholar in Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, stresses that “far more attention should be paid to wildfire-modified chromium, and we presume additional metals as well, to more thoroughly characterize the overall threats wildfires pose to human health.”
Chromium 6, notorious for its role in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, is a known carcinogen that can be harmful when inhaled or ingested through contaminated water. The researchers point out that with the expected increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires due to climate change, understanding the health risks posed by airborne chromium becomes paramount.
Senior study author Scott Fendorf, the Terry Huffington Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, notes that while chromium is one of the metals of highest concern, they expect subsequent studies to reveal additional metal inhalation exposure risks posed by wildfires.
The study urges a revaluation of policies and support mechanisms to address the challenges faced by communities dealing with the aftermath of wildfires and emphasizes the need for better understanding the health risks for first responders, residents, and other individuals exposed to airborne chromium during and after wildfires. The potential risks associated with fire-induced chromium contamination in waterways and groundwater also require further research.
As wildfires continue to be a growing concern globally, this research sheds light on an unexpected health hazard associated with the aftermath of these natural disasters. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate exposure risks and protect the health of communities affected by wildfires.
