Fires in Canada affect air quality in Spain

During this week, several media and press have widely reported on an atmospheric phenomenon that has affected many regions of northern Spain. This phenomenon has been caused by the arrival of particles transported from the huge fires that are currently devastating British Columbia, Canada. These fires, of an unprecedented magnitude, have generated a large amount of particulate material that has been carried by atmospheric currents, even reaching our territory.

"This increase of suspended particles has had a direct impact on our Campus", assures Jesús Miguel Santamaría, director of the BIOMA Institute. He also adds that "according to the attached graph, on the 20th of this month there was a significant increase in the concentration of fine particles, specifically _PM10 and PM2_.5". Although the average values on that day did not exceed the limits established by European legislation, they did significantly exceed the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). During the hours when the arrival of these particles was most intense, PM10 and PM2.5 levels of 109 and 85 µg/m³, respectively, were recorded, reflecting a worryingstatus from a public health point of view.

The attached image, captured by the Copernicus satellite, sample shows how the pollution plume moves towards the Iberian Peninsula from the south of France, penetrating our geography from the northwest. The back-trajectory analyses carried out for the days when the arrival of the particulate matter was detected confirm the path of these particles before reaching Campus of the University of Navarra.

"This subject of phenomena underscores the importance of continuously monitoring air quality, especially when extreme events in distant regions can have direct repercussions on our health and well-being," says Jesús Miguel. It is crucial to remain attentive to the evolution of the status and take the necessary precautions to mitigate possible adverse effects on the health of the community.