Summary
The article by McDiarmid (2017) discusses the severe pollution of air that appeared due to a wildfire. The fire broke out in Fort McMurray (Canada) and spread across vast territories causing air contamination. According to the text, the environmental hazard can also affect some New England states. It means that the wildfire and the smoke from it have covered more than 4000 kilometers (McDiarmid, 2017). Air quality meteorologists claimed that the smoke had shaped a huge circle in the atmosphere.
Experts in the field stated that this environmental hazard had a strong influence on the quality of air in Canada and caused severe pollution of territories. The air had very high levels of ozone, which was not typical for this country (McDiarmid, 2017). As a rule, the air in Canada is clean and rich in oxygen; however, when the wildfire burst, it affected the ozone layer to a significant degree.
Other countries are also in jeopardy of air contamination. Given the fact that the pollution from the wildfire spreads quickly, some of the American states have applied “to the country’s federal Environmental Protection Agency for a special exemption for pollution levels that exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards” (McDiarmid, 2017, para. 4). Therefore, the threat of severe air contamination is rather intense, and other countries also have to take immediate measures to prevent negative consequences to the environment.
The wildfire has affected the state significantly. According to the article, it destroyed 590,000 hectares of land as well as the facilities and premises located on it (McDiarmid, 2017). The fire was taken under control in July; nevertheless, its consequences are experienced until the present moment. It became possible to localize the fire a month after it broke out; therefore, it can be assumed that the effects of air pollution will be difficult to eliminate. The wildfire and its fumes have created their environment, which resulted in the fact that pollutants can be easily spread with the plume across vast territories. A team has been established to check the way emissions affect the environment, and a special website has been created so that country residents can observe “smoke forecast maps” in their area (McDiarmid, 2017, para. 21). Despite the efforts made, 100 wildfires are still burning. New England is also at risk of fires; however, the temperatures there are rather low. Nonetheless, ozone levels should constantly be monitored to avoid developing further consequences to the environment.
Relation to the Course
The article relates to the course directly because wildfires strongly affect not only flora and fauna by ruining natural animal habitats but also humans. Wildfire smoke exposure can lead to severe health impacts especially in individuals suffering from lung diseases and other conditions (McDiarmid, 2017). Thus, since wildfires and their emissions affect the environment and public health, they should be paid particular attention from the side of the scientific community and general society so that people are aware of their consequences and can take measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Personal Opinion
A wildfire is an uncontrolled process in which a large number of pollutants are formed. When forest fires become extensive and occupy populated areas, this makes the situation more difficult as the facilities made of synthetic and polymeric materials start producing toxic combustion products when burning. The ecological danger of fires is related to changes in water, soil, air, and other elements of the system. For these reasons, it is important to understand the degree of hazard and realize the types and amount of emissions to nature to reduce the risk of their consequences and increase the level of environmental safety.
Reference
McDiarmid, M. (2017). Fort McMurray fires cause air pollution spike on other side of continent.CBC News. Web.