The president of the environmental advocacy group Zero, Francisco Ferreira, expressed concern today, stating that “priority is not being given to protecting the health of populations, especially those most vulnerable to the immense air pollution associated” with wildfires.
“The fine particles emitted by rural fires are the air pollutant of greatest concern for public health, as they can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream,” he warned.
The Zero association advocates for the creation of public warnings “within the framework of actions by Civil Protection in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, through the Portuguese Environment Agency, and the Ministry of Health, through the Directorate-General of Health.”
Recommendations from the Directorate-General of Health in Case of Fire
Regarding the wildfires that have consumed forest areas and brushland, particularly in the northern part of the country, and the forecast of rural fire danger, the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) issued a series of recommendations on Tuesday.
In cases of smoke inhalation, the DGS recommends removing the person from the site and avoiding exposure to smoke or heat, warning that “smoke inhalation or chemical irritants, and heat can cause damage to the respiratory tract.”
The use of a mask/respirator (N95) is recommended whenever exposure is unavoidable, as well as maintaining regular medication “if associated conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are present and following the doctor’s instructions in the event of worsening symptoms.”
