Sponsors:
North Carolina State University, the Southern Fire Exchange, and the University of Florida
Presenters:
Sadia Afrin, Graduate Research Assistant,
Dept. of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Fernando Garcia Menendez, Assistant Professor
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Webinar Description:
While prescribed fire is an essential land management tool in the Southeast, its impacts on air quality and public health remain uncertain. This webinar will cover a recent project that used burn permit records, air quality modelling, and epidemiological associations between fine particulate matter concentrations and multiple health endpoints to examine these impacts, with a focus on case studies in Georgia and North Carolina. Results show not only potential health impacts from prescribed fire, but call for greater attention to the characterization of prescribed fire impacts, potential air quality benefits of land treatment, and the communities most exposed to fire-related smoke. Following the presentations there will be time for audience Q/A with the speakers.