The two giant fires that have been raging in the Gironde since July 12 have burned 19,300 hectares of forest, and their smoke and odors were wafted by the wind overnight Monday into Tuesday in Bordeaux and hundreds of kilometers from homes. Residents even said that they were woken up by the smells. “I haveI had to get up to close the windows because it was unbearable in the house. It hurt my throat“A resident testifies at the microphone of France Bleu Gironde. At night, firefighters received worried calls from residents and vacationers: are these vapors dangerous to health? And if so, how to prevent it?
The smoke from two large fires in Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch was thus carried by the wind not only to the Gironde but also to the neighboring departments. “Since last Friday we have had winds coming from the north of the region pushing the smoke south., With increasing levels of fine particulate matter concentrations in the Landes or the Pyrenees-Atlantic Islands»,details to franceinfo Julie Gault of Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine (the institute responsible for measuring air quality in the region). The winds changed last night and now the north of the region is affected (Gironde, Charente, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Vienne)“.
Simple “irritation” of the respiratory tract, but vigilance for those at risk
Air quality has thus already declined “bad” the time “degraded”, throughout the region. So Limoges, Poitiers or La Rochelle are also concerned, the website Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine indicated. It is among the possible consequences on healthirritationThe press release of the Regional Health Agency of the region (ARS) published on Tuesday stated about the respiratory tract.
What are the protective measures taken? As it has already happened, the ARS advises to evacuate the population with precautionary measures in the areas closest to the fires. And, “In the most remote places where forest fire smoke reaches”recommends Nouvelle-Aquitaine ARS “limit time spent outdoors, limit intense physical activity outdoors, closely monitor people at risk”. Specifically, suffering people“asthma, chronic respiratory failure” or “other respiratory pathologies, as well as people with heart failure, in whom the irritating effect of vapors can aggravate their pathology.” Finally, “For this reason, workers performing physical work outdoors may be exposed for prolonged periods, increasing the risk of irritation. Their employers are urged to be vigilant and contact the occupational medicine service if necessary.shows the regional ARS.
In addition to those at risk, “For a simple sensation of an embarrassing smell and/or irritation of the upper respiratory tract, it is not necessary to contact the attending physician, as well as to call the emergency number 15 of the SAMU center.”, confirms the ARS. As for the fumes felt in Bordeaux, asked Le FigaroLieutenant Arno Mendus, the Gironde fire officer, wants to reassure. “The smoke we had this morning in the Bordeaux region did not endanger the population. Yesterday evening we received many calls from worried people, but according to our information, there is no danger..
The most exposed firefighters
All in all, though, inspiring “Very high doses of fire smoke are still harmful to health”, emphasizes Lieutenant Arno Menduse. That’s why firefighters are on the front lines protecting themselves from it. On the other hand, smoke from urban fires, whether residential or industrial, is much more toxic than smoke from wildfires, he tells us. “In a city fire, we use self-contained breathing apparatus, which consists of masks and rear air cylinders; Smoke from house fires really releases a lot of chemicals.”. In contrast, “During forest fires, we do not use these devices at all. We are in the open air, the risk is much less..
Dr. Gilles Dixsaut, a respiratory specialist interviewed by TF1, however, is more cautious about the toxicity of smoke from fires, including forest fires, especially among firefighters. Black smoke is composed of benzene, cyanide and carbon dioxide, which is responsible for suffocation. White smoke, on the other hand, emits fine particles that can be just as harmful as those from tailpipes if exposed for long periods of time. In order for these vapors to be truly harmful to health, it is therefore necessary to be exposed to them for a long time or regularly; therefore, firefighters are particularly concerned. “These ultrafine particles will travel far into the respiratory tract and this is the most dangerous because these ultrafine particles can ultimately be responsible for respiratory illnesses in people who are frequently exposed to fires, and this is especially the case for firefighters.– he elaborates.
Source: Le Figaro
