Turkey: WMO warns fires and heat threaten air quality
In Turkey, Anadolu Agency reported that the World Meteorological Organization warned of risks to global efforts to improve air quality due to pollution associated with wildfires and heat waves. According to the organization, this also threatens human health and ecosystems.
Smoke from fires
In its annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, the WMO emphasized the close link between climate change and air pollution and called for coordinated policies to address both problems.
According to the organization, the number of extreme wildfire smoke episodes worldwide has tripled since the 1990s. The WMO cited a study according to which, between 2010 and 2018, such events were associated with nearly 100,000 additional deaths annually.
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The organization also noted that common risk assessment models may underestimate wildfire-related mortality by up to 93%. This is due to insufficient accounting for the higher toxicity of fine particulate matter PM2.5 originating from fires.
Heat and ground-level ozone
Heat waves also worsen ground-level ozone pollution: higher temperatures, stagnant air and intense sunlight contribute to its formation. The WMO expects ozone-related health risks to intensify, potentially leading to tens of thousands of additional premature deaths.
The bulletin also noted that, due to the expected intensification of extreme fire weather conditions, complying with WHO air quality guidelines will become increasingly difficult. The WMO called for improved monitoring of pollutants, including black carbon and atmospheric microplastics.
