Increased burning may impact human health

摘要

The health consequences of large-scale biomass burning due to wildfires near urban areas or increases in biofuel and coal usage are poorly understood. James Roberts et al. (pp. 8966-8971) conducted laboratory and field measurements of ambient air in Los Angeles, CA, and emissions from tobacco smoke, laboratory biomass fires, and wildfires in Boulder, CO, to measure the concentrations of isocyanic acid (HNCO), a chemical that has been linked to chronic diseases such as cataracts and rheumatoid arthritis.