Studies Find Regional Variation In Wildfire PM Risks, Complicating Mitigation

Recent research shows that the type of vegetation burned and the temperatures reached by wildfires drive significant differences in the toxicity of particulate matter (PM) emitted, according to an EPA scientist, creating regional variation in the risk posed by fires and complicating how regulators attempt to reduce the impacts. Speaking on a webinar hosted by EPA July 19, Aimen Farraj, a scientific investigator in EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), outlined the findings that show certain vegetation types produce...