What are the known chemical components of smoke from wildfires?
• Particulate matter – coarse visible and fine invisible particles including soot and ash that can reach deep into the lungs and may contain irritating and cancer causing compounds. • Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons – a class of organic compounds found on the particulate matter from forest fires, wood stoves, pine needles, and fireplaces, some of which may be carcinogenic with extended exposure. • Carbon monoxide – a colorless, odorless, toxic gas produced in highest amounts for a few minutes after dousing the fire or in smoldering forest fires. Firefighters working near the wildfire are at greatest risk for high doses of carbon monoxide. Areas downwind of the fire experiencing high particulate smoke levels typically will not have high levels of carbon monoxide. Signs of high carbon monoxide levels in the blood include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and decreased mental functioning. • Aldehydes – compounds that are extremely irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes of the mouth and
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