RT Journal Article
T1 Chemical characteristics of wildfire ash across the globe and their environmental and socio-economic implications
A1 Sánchez-García, C.
A1 Santín, C.
A1 Neris, J.
A1 Sigmund, G.
A1 Otero Pérez, Xosé Lois
A1 Manley, J.
A1 González-Rodríguez, G.
A1 Belcher, C.M.
A1 Cerdà, A.
A1 Marcotte, A.L.
A1 Murphy, S.F.
A1 Rhoades, C.C.
A1 Sheridan, G.
A1 Strydom, T.
A1 Robichaud, P.R.
A1 Doerr, S.H.
K1 Water contamination and eutrophication
K1 Wildfire impacts
K1 Mobilization
K1 Water quality
K1 Ash redistribution
K1 Biogeochemical cycles
AB The mobilisation of potentially harmful chemical constituents in wildfire ash can be a major consequence of wildfires, posing widespread societal risks. Knowledge of wildfire ash chemical composition is crucial to anticipate and mitigate these risks. Here we present a comprehensive dataset on the chemical characteristics of a wide range of wildfire ashes (42 types and a total of 148 samples) from wildfires across the globe and examine their potential societal and environmental implications. An extensive review of studies analysing chemical composition in ash was also performed to complement and compare our ash dataset. Most ashes in our dataset had an alkaline reaction (mean pH 8.8, ranging between 6 and 11.2). Important constituents of wildfire ash were organic carbon (mean: 204 g kg 1), calcium, aluminium, and iron (mean: 47.9, 17.9 and 17.1 g kg 1). Mean nitrogen and phosphorus ranged between 1 and 25 g kg 1, and between 0.2 and 9.9 g kg 1, respectively. The largest concentrations of metals of concern for human and ecosystem health were observed for manganese (mean: 1488 mg kg􀀀 1; three ecosystems > 1000 mg kg 1), zinc (mean: 181 mg kg 1; two ecosystems > 500 mg kg 1) and lead (mean: 66.9 mg kg 1; two ecosystems > 200 mg kg 1). Burn severity and sampling timing were key factors influencing ash chemical characteristics like pH, carbon and nitrogen concentrations. The highest readily dissolvable fractions (as a % of ash dry weight) in water were observed for sodium (18 %) and magnesium (11.4 %). Although concentrations of elements of concern were very close to, or exceeded international contamination standards in some ashes, the actual effect of ash will depend on factors like ash loads and the dilution into environmental matrices such as water, soil and sediment. Our approach can serve as an initial methodological standardisation of wildfire ash sampling and chemical analysis protocols.
PB Elsevier Ltd
SN 1873-6750
YR 2023
FD 2023-06-25
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/39333
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/39333
LA eng
NO Environment International. Volume 178, August 2023, 108065
DS Minerva
RD 30 abr 2026