Os Limites da Habitabilidade

This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the health impacts of wildfire smoke, highlighting events in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada. It details how smoke pollutants affect vulnerable populations and calls for immediate forest protection, improved health risk adaptation, and global climate action to limit warming to 1.5°C.

• Wildfire smoke contains pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, which can contaminate domestic water tanks and watercourses through ash and particles, as can fire retardants dropped by aircraft.
• Health impacts of wildfire smoke are most severe for children, the elderly, people over 65, and those with chronic conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Short-term effects include coughing, shortness of breath, and increased emergency hospital admissions, particularly for children. Exposure is also linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight, and impacts on diabetes.
• In Canada's British Columbia and Alberta provinces, 2018 was the worst wildfire season on record, following a record-breaking 2017 season that saw a 10-week state of emergency. The 2018 fires burned 1.3 million hectares, forcing the Interior Health Authority to evacuate 880 patients and relocate over 700 health professionals across 19 sites at a cost of 2.2 million US dollars.
• The 2019/2020 Australian wildfires resulted in air quality levels in state capitals that were ten times more dangerous than normal. In Canberra, MP2.5 levels reached a maximum of 2,496 μg/m3 between January 5 and 11, and prescriptions for shortness-of-breath inhalers rose by 73%. Approximately 80% of the population was affected by smoke pollution.
• In the Amazon basin, where approximately 27 million people live, about 10 million reside in areas with poor air quality. The August 2019 fires led to increased respiratory problems, especially in children. Research indicates that particulate matter from these burns is linked to decreased lung function, higher rates of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and low birth weight.

APA

MacGuire, F., & Sergeeva, M. (2021). Os Limites da Habitabilidade. Global Climate and Health Alliance. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/limits_livability_Executive-Summary-BrPt.pdf

Chicago

MacGuire, Frances, and Milena Sergeeva. Os Limites da Habitabilidade. Global Climate and Health Alliance, 2021. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/limits_livability_Executive-Summary-BrPt.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=MacGuire |first1=Frances |last2=Sergeeva |first2=Milena |title=Os Limites da Habitabilidade |publisher=Global Climate and Health Alliance |date=2021 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/limits_livability_Executive-Summary-BrPt.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{macguire2021limites, author = {MacGuire, Frances and Sergeeva, Milena}, title = {{Os Limites da Habitabilidade}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2021}, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/limits_livability_Executive-Summary-BrPt.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }