Volatile Organic Compounds in Wildfire Smoke
Wildfires occur worldwide, typically during the summer and fall seasons when temperatures are higher as well as during periods of drought. Changes in climate and increased global temperatures have resulted in more intense and severe wildfire seasons in recent years. Specifically, the United States, Canada, and Europe have experienced more extreme wildfires in the last 1-2 years. Notable fires from the 2023 season include the Quebec wildfire near the La Grande Reservoir 3 that charred 4,730 square miles,1 the Lahaina, Hawaii, fire that destroyed 2,200 buildings and many historical landmarks,2 and the August wildfire in Greece that was the most devastating wildfire to ever occur in the EU.3 While the fires themselves are devastating to the environment and surroundings, the smoke emitted from the fires is also of concern to humans and animals alike.
Wildfire smoke contains many toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including dioxins, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), benzene, toluene, xylenes, and hexane. The amounts of these VOCs in smoke depend on what material is burning, the amount of oxygen available, and the temperature. Many VOCs have been associated with adverse health impacts, including respiratory distress, damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and in some cases carcinogenicity. It is important during times of wildfire for researchers to test and quantify VOCs present to protect public health.
CIL offers many stable isotope-labeled and native standards and standard mixtures to assist with the analysis of VOCs in wildfire smoke. We encourage you to check out our dioxin and PAC catalogs and browse our website for more target compounds.
