Beaches Will Be Affected By Wildfires In North Carolina
Please be aware of the beaches being affected by the wildfires in Brunswick County in North Carolina. The beaches are Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Oak Island. With over 16,000 acres of wildfires going on that are affecting folk’s air quality, what about wildlife? Officials are calling it the Pulp Road Fire, shutting down Highway 211. The Pulp Road Fire is spreading over 3,500 acres. Let’s talk about Prescribed fires, also known as prescribed burns. They are supposed to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire. Prescribed burns are carefully planned and implemented, taking into account safety measures to ensure that the fire remains within the desired boundaries and does not pose risks to people, property, or adjacent ecosystems. But sometimes the health of neighbors living in that area is affected.
When it comes to these types of fires, they affect air quality. Air pollution is linked with an increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth. Babies born too small or too early are more susceptible to health problems such as lower-respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, brain damage and inflammation, blood disorders, and jaundice. The smaller the baby or the earlier they are born, the higher the risk of complications. It’s estimated that, in 2019, 476,000 infants died in their first month of life from health effects associated with air pollution exposure.
