Researchers find unprecedented levels of arsenic following wildfires

The fallout from last summer’s wildfire season will likely be felt for decades.

Researchers from the University of Waterloo (UW) and Nipissing University (NU) has been looking into the amount of arsenic released into the environment as a result of the wildfires.

The researchers focused on Yellowknife, N.W.T. In particular, they looked at the arsenic levels leftover after wildfires burned areas that had seen mining operations in the past.

The team looked at data from over five decades and estimate the 2023 fires released between 69 and 183 tonnes of arsenic into the environment.

The amount of arsenic released depends of several things like how hot the fire was, how deep it burned and the type of soil in the region. Typically, arsenic is contained in the soil and poses little risk to humans, but fire can release the toxin back into the environment.

The researchers also found that wetlands have a tendency to store toxins in greater concentrations and arsenic emissions in those area are mist concerning.

The team believes that with the frequency of wildfires increasing due to climate change, other communities with past mining operations, that are also in high risk fire areas could be forced to deal with elevated arsenic levels.

The World Health Organization associates arsenic with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, various cancers and infant mortality.