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Explora: Environment
and Resource Leaf burning air pollution

A large study of 1,332,526 cancer deaths in 5,565 3.4. Leaf burning bans, community composting
Brazilian municipalities estimated that for each 1 µg/m programs, and benefits of composting
3
annual mean increase in wildfire-related PM , there was Residential leaf burning is common across the world. 2,30,68
2.5
a significant increase in overall cancer mortality (relative Leaf burning has been a controversial issue in many parts
risk [RR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 – 1.03, of the world for many decades, and many towns, counties,
P < 0.001). Increases in wildfire-related PM were related states, and countries have passed total or partial bans
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2.5
to significantly increased risk of many cancers including on leaf burning. Leaf and landscape burning activities
the nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, breast, and are totally banned in some European Nations including
prostate cancers. Other studies have linked wildfire Austria, France, and Ireland, and completely restricted
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exposure to significantly higher rates of lung cancer. in Germany with the exception of Bavaria. Leaf and
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Moreover, significantly poorer survival among patients landscape burning is totally banned in a number of U.S.
already diagnosed with lung cancer. 53
states including Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts. 69-71
A large number of studies have linked wildfire exposure Many other counties and towns ban leaf burning where
to significantly increase respiratory and cardiovascular state or national law does not forbid it.
hospitalizations and emergency department visits. A 2024 Leaf composting avoids the problems associated with
meta-analysis reported that wildfire exposures were burning or landfilling of yard waste. There are many options
associated with the following adverse health effects: 54,55 to compost leaves through either home- or community-
(i) Significantly increased respiratory hospitalizations based programs, which are administered at minimal cost
(RR change 0.15, 95% CI 0.09 – 0.42, 10 studies);
(ii) Significantly increased cardiovascular hospitalizations or even for free. Leaf composting is a natural process
that may be conducted by humans or assisted with either
(RR change 0.06, 95% CI 0.00 – 0.12, 9 studies);
(iii) Significantly increased respiratory emergency low- or high-technology methods, including the use of
windrow piles and systems, which employ frequent turning
department visits (RR change 0.36, 95% CI 0.19 – and aeration. 72,73 Such composting produces nutritious and
0.53, 5 studies).
well-aerated compost, which can be useful for growing
Other published studies have linked wildfire exposure many edible and ornamental plants at the residential,
to significantly higher rates of chronic obstructive park, and farm levels. 72,74-77 Many towns have community-
pulmonary disease hospitalizations and emergency level leaf pick-up and composting programs, as well as
department visits, and to significantly higher rates of programs to compost food waste. 74-77 Such programs are
stroke hospitalizations in subjects older than 65 years. often very cost-efficient in terms of preventing human
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Other research has also linked wildfire exposure to disease morbidity and mortality, preventing property fires,
significantly increased risk of many health problems and producing useful compost. For example, an economic
including respiratory infections, mental health problems, analysis in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reported that the benefits
and adverse birth outcomes. Exposure to wildfire air of a leaf burning ban and a town-level composting program
pollution has been associated with significantly higher would produce a net savings of about $1 million in costs
infection rates from Coccidioides (“Valley fever” fungi), over a 10-year period. 78
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and two common icosahedral School-based composting programs for food and
RNA viruses-influenza and SARS-CoV-2. 56-60 According yard waste are excellent ways to teach young people
to a 2021 review of 63 papers, most studies reported that about nature, efficient use of resources, and the benefits
wildfire exposure was related to significantly rates of of growing edible and ornamental plants. Some studies
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depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. have reported that getting children involved in gardening
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Wildfire exposure has been associated with significantly work is associated with significantly higher consumption
higher rates of completed suicide and significantly higher 80
use of psychotropic medicine prescriptions. 4,62,63 A 2021 of fruits and vegetables.
review of eight published studies involving 1,702,252 The use of indoor high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
births reported that wildfire exposure was associated with filters can significantly reduce PM exposures to people
2.5
significantly lower birth weight in six out of seven studies who stay indoors most of the day. One study reported
and pre-term birth in two out of four studies. Other that the use of indoor HEPA filters reduced indoor PM
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research has linked wildfire exposure to significantly higher exposures by 48 – 78% during wildfire-burning periods.
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rates of headache-related emergency department visits, The utilization of indoor HEPA filters may also be a useful
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significantly higher atopic dermatitis exacerbations, and strategy to reduce leaf burning exposures in areas where a
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significantly increased lupus activity. 67 total leaf burning ban is politically infeasible.
Volume 1 Issue 1 (2024) 5 doi: 10.36922/eer.4040