How Wildfires Will Harm Your Finances..
The Wildfires of North America are a disaster for the whole world - here is what you need to know.
So once again North America is on fire.
What at one point seemed like a random tragedy in a far off part of the continent or country has now arrived directly on all of our doorsteps and into our lungs.
Where did they Come From?
Wildfires have burned since the start of plant life on earth. Usually, dead leaves, trees, animals dry out on the forrest floor, then get rained on - anon. This process continues until the dead biomass becomes integrated with the soil.
Unfortunately, western North America has steep mountains running from Alaska to Mexico that make rain much less frequent east of the West Coast. In addition to being naturally drier, climate change is making the conditions almost drought like in many places. The air is hotter, moisture evaporates faster, then fails to agglomerate into rain clouds because there often isn’t enough blowing inland from the coast.
To clear the dead biomass the woods need to burn. This used to be fine. Lightning would strike, a few dozen acres would burn, the older trees would survive and there would be more space on the floor for new growth.
Now, because of El Niño (an extra warm mass of air moving east over the Pacific Ocean made much stronger by carbon emissions) the modern fires get so big, so fast, that they actually make their own fuel. The living trees are dryer because there has been little rain. The fire is hot enough that it dries them out to the point and being new firewood and consumes them.
This has been happening regularly in the West for years, and now it’s happening in central and eastern Canada as well.
The Fires are Still Pretty Far Away Though.. We’re Fine Right?
No. We aren't. Fire smoke is one of the most dangerous things you can inhale - especially these days.
What we has humans that mostly live in cities need to focus on are called PMI2.5 (short for fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5). These can include small chunks of all chemicals but chemicals such as Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and various Volatile Organic Compounds are the greatest concern.
Especially dangerous is when houses start to burn. Everything from the wooden frame, to the plastic siding, to the tar laden roof shingles all burns up into particles of differing sizes.
These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, get in the bloodstream, and potentially cross the blood-brain barrier if small enough.
Important to note these particles account for approximately 90% of the particle pollution by volume coming from fire smoke.
At sufficient concentrations (like we are seeing all across the North American Eastern Sea Board) it can cause severe respiratory irritation and eye irritation in a matter of hours. In days it can cause a temporary loss of lung capacity, bronchitis, fatigue, and seriously exacerbate existing respiratory issues.
Over multiple days of exposure you begin to sharply increase your risk of many cancers, heart diseases, lung diseases.
There is a lack of scientific study in the effects of fire smoke over months and years.
What the air quality monitors are basically saying is that every day of exposure to the smoke with no masks or air filters is equivalent is smoking 5-15 cigarettes.
Holy S=!T.. How do I keep Myself Safe??
If you live in a newly built condo you are in better shape than average. The windows have good seals so if they stay closed the building’s air recycling should be a good start. If possible it would still be ideal to buy a two stage air purifier with a carbon mesh and fine particle filter like these made by Honeywell.
If you are in a house or older apartment in a major city affected by the smoke it is advised to get a two-stage purifier for every room in which people spend significant time (bedrooms, the living room etc). The air filter on your furnace will not cycle the air coming in from outside.
Additionally, when the air quality is very bad check out this website to see the air quality in your city. If the levels get to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or just “unhealthy” then consider wearing a N95 or N99 mask to filter amount as many particles as possible from the air you are breathing.
And This All Connects to Finance Because…
Like I mentioned earlier, fire smoke causes a host of health hazards very quickly. Working with chronic disease is tough IF you can manage it at all.
Protecting your health is the first step to making sure you are able to continue making and growing the money you need to support your lifestyle.
Additionally, this introduction to dealing with bad air quality connects to many other areas of climate change - intricately connected to everyone’s finances.
The 3-month forecast makes it look as though North America will be in for a very challenging summer.
Keep up to date with your local weather and air quality advisories.
Stay safe everyone.
James.