Bushfire Smoke and Allergies
As many of us have heard, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has officially confirmed that we have moved into an El Nino weather pattern, and with that comes the predictions of a severe bushfire season in Australia. This prediction is particularly concerning for those who suffer from allergies, and allergy related conditions like asthma, hay fever and eczema.
What does the El Nino forecast mean?
Compared to the last few years of La Nina, which brought cooler and wetter conditions, El Nino brings about drier and hotter weather. (1)
This is due to sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean being significantly warmer than average, leading to a shift in rainfall away from the western Pacific Ocean and Eastern Australia towards the central and eastern Pacific Ocean instead.
El Nino increases the incidence of heat waves, the severity of bushfires and contributes to drought conditions.
The CSIRO has also shown that both El Nino and La Nina weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, driven by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
The most recent Australian example of El Nino is the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, which came at the end of an El Nino period, making 2019 the hottest and driest year on record for Australia.
But, to make matters worse, the heavy rains we’ve been experiencing over the past few years have spurred rapid growth of grass and bushland, leaving us in an even more vulnerable position this time round.
What’s in bushfire smoke?
Plants are so good for our atmosphere, as they play an important role in dispersing and removing pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter from the atmosphere, and help improve air quality overall.
So when they burn, not only do they release these pollutants back into the atmosphere, but the combustion of organic matter also releases sulphur gases and produces particulate matter, which we can inhale.
There are two categories of particulate matter;
- PM 10 – particles less than 10 micrometres
- PM 2.5 – particles less than 2.5 micrometres
This particulate matter can contain fragments of allergens including pollen, dust and mould. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can reach in our respiratory system and cause issues.
The heat generated during a bushfire also triggers the release of a group of chemicals called “volatile organic compounds”, which refers to a group of chemicals that are released under ‘volatile’ conditions like extreme heat.
Bushfires also trigger the release of heavy metals into the atmosphere, as tress absorb heavy metals through the soil. A study conducted in 2019 in Iraq also found that eucalyptus trees contain a particularly high level of heavy metals compared to other species.
Do bushfires contribute to climate change?
The amount of C02 produced by a fire is directly proportional to the total amount of “fuel” consumed by the fire. So the amount released by a low-intensity fire (like backburning) is small, as it mostly low shrubs that quickly regrow. Although a hot summer bushfire will released massive amounts of carbon as it burns through low shrubs, large logs, the canopies of the tallest trees and organic matter and soil which may have accumulated carbon for thousands of years.(2)
The amount of C02 re-absorbed is dependent on the amount of rainfall in the early regeneration period. Where fires are followed by high-rainfall years and heavy regeneration, more carbon can be stored than what was released in the fire.
Who is most affected by bushfire smoke?
The most vulnerable people are those with respiratory issues, as well as heart disease, diabetes, pregnant women and the elderly. This is because smoke can get into the bloodstream, contributing to inflammation and the narrowing of the blood vessels, and it can also cause slightly higher blood sugar levels. (3)
Also those who struggle with allergy symptoms like asthma and hay fever already have inflamed airways, which can make them more sensitive to irritants like bushfire smoke.
A study conducted in America following the California Camp Fire also found that the increased air pollution following the fire was associated with exacerbations of atopic dermatitis (or eczema), and specifically the symptom of itching.
Interestingly, many of the adult patients presenting with the symptom of itching had no history of atopic dermatitis, which suggests that air pollution exposure may affect the skin health of those without a symptom history as well.
Although with the predicted severity of this bushfire season, it is possible that even those without existing health conditions to experience short-term and long-term effects when exposed.
What are the long-term health impacts from bushfire smoke exposure?
Since these bushfires are becoming a more regular occurrence, there has been more studies looking into the short-term and long-term effects of exposure to air pollution.
Not only is long-term exposure to air pollution associated with an increased risk of several cancers, and chronic conditions like lung and heart disease, a 2019 study conducted in China reported long-term exposure to a high concentration of the ultrafine PM2.5 particles is also linked to an increased risk of stroke.
Exposure to these PM2.5 particles has also been found to cause long-term inflammation in the upper respiratory system and a decreased immune defence from respiratory viruses like COVID (4). These factors are also thought to contribute to an increased risk of developing allergies and lung/sinus issues.
Natural Allergy Treatment
At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland (HWA), we use a technique called muscle testing (or kinesiology) to help identify reactions to food, airborne and chemical substances which may be contributing to the symptoms of conditions like hay fever, asthma and eczema.
Following testing, you can work with your qualified Naturopath to address the reactions to these triggers using a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT).
We have clinics located all over Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand, and help thousands of people manage their symptoms each year.
To find out more about how we can help you, get in touch!
- Call us on 1300 853 023 / 09 479 5997 (NZ) to chat to our friendly staff
- Send us your question HERE
- Request a Free PAT Information E-PACK HERE
Please note that this blog post contains general information only. Always consult your health care professional before changing your diet, starting new supplements or regarding any medical condition.
