Home / Environment / Bushfire Smoke Pollutes QLD Cities Further Than Thought
Bushfire Smoke Pollutes QLD Cities Further Than Thought
16 Oct
Summary
- Bushfire smoke increases PM2.5 pollution by 160.5% in Queensland.
- Bushfire-impacted air quality hours tripled between 2018-2023.
- Smoke travels hundreds of kilometers, worsening urban air quality.
Bushfire smoke is increasingly impacting Queensland's urban air quality, with pollution travelling further and persisting longer, according to new research. A study analysing air quality data from 2008 to 2023 found that fine particle pollution (PM2.5) can increase by up to 160.5% during fire events. Ozone levels also saw significant rises, by up to 33.2%, during fire-active seasons.
Between 2018 and 2023, the frequency of hours affected by bushfire smoke was approximately three times higher than in the preceding decade (2008-2017). Researchers attribute this to climate change increasing bushfire intensity and duration, leading to prolonged pollution. This smoke is not confined to areas near fires; it can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres, degrading air quality in distant urban centres.
PM2.5 particles, emitted during wildfires, are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, linked to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, bushfire emissions can interact with local urban pollutants, such as vehicle and industrial emissions, to create more ozone. This complex interaction means smoke can worsen air quality even when fires are far from cities.
