Melanie Symonds, head of Save the Children Wales, said children in Wales and around the world are facing the health impacts of extreme heat, wildfire smoke and unsafe outdoor air. “Children are enduring intense heat, breathing bushfire smoke and losing the freedom to play outdoors because the air is no longer safe.”
She added: “These symptoms are not only frightening, but also have serious health implications for children whose bodies and lungs are still developing.”
Torfaen City Council said it was not aware of the study and questioned the evidence behind its findings. The council said: “It is not clear what data or evidence was used in the assessment to arrive at the reported conclusions.”
However, the department acknowledged that prolonged wildfires can affect local air quality, particularly by increasing levels of smoke and fine particulate matter.
The council said it was “continuously monitoring” air quality through a monitoring station in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran.
“While increased particle concentrations have been observed during wildfire periods, the council’s monitoring stations are intended to provide information about general background air quality, rather than conditions at specific locations in the immediate vicinity of fires,” the report said.
The Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) website, external said it is part of the European Union’s space programme and provides global data on air pollution, wildfire emissions and related health risks.
According to the data, wildfire emissions recorded in Torfaen were “highly unusual”.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk