Wildfires expose millions to air pollution in France and Spain

4 min read

Smoke from wildfires in France and Spain pushed fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to very high levels across wide areas, with Copernicus data showing peaks above 300 micrograms per cubic metre in Bordeaux on July 26 and above 400 in Limoges over the weekend, exposing millions to short-term cardiovascular and respiratory risks. Scientists warned that high-intensity fires can increase particle toxicity and carry smoke hundreds of kilometres downwind from Madrid and Bordeaux. The fires released about 18 million metric tons of CO2 in Europe this year, with half of the EU's fire emissions occurring in the last week, a factor for forest carbon accounting and future climate targets.

High-intensity fires raised PM2.5 to levels harmful to health