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Characterizing Postfire Fine and Ultrafine Particles in the 2025 Eaton Fire Burn Zone and Nearby Areas

delete2026-04-21
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PRE
AI
H
Haoxuan Chen
Q
Qiyue Nie
Q
Qiao Yu
J
Jing Li
M
Muchuan Niu
Y
Yuan Yao
P
Priscialla Boo
A
Albert Kyi
C
Chun-Ying Chao
E
Evelyn Deveraux
D
Daniel H. Sung
C
Chou-Hsien Lin
A
Anna C. Neville
V
Vine Blankenship
H
Haroula D. Baliaka
R
Richard Flagan
N
N. L. Ng
R
R. Bahreini
A
Ann M. Dillner
A
Armistead G. Russell
P
Pawel K. Misztal
L
Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz
Y
Yifang Zhu *
DOI:10.1021/acs.estlett.6c00123delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Particle emissions may persist in wildland–urban interface (WUI) fire burn zones during the postfire period, yet their characteristics remain poorly understood. Following full containment of the 2025 Eaton Fire, we conducted aerosol measurements to characterize the spatial variability and temporal dynamics of fine and ultrafine particles within and around the burn zone. We found that the burn zone (inside the fire perimeter) exhibited slightly lower median PM2.5 concentrations than locations >1000 m outside the perimeter (11.1 vs 12.0 μg/m3) but more frequent transient PM2.5 concentration peaks (2.8 vs 2.2 peaks/km) with greater prominence (9.0 vs 6.0 μg/m3) and shorter durations (2.9 vs 7.5 s). These results indicate intermittent and intense PM2.5 emissions that were not captured by time-integrated measurements. In addition, particle number concentrations within the burn zone were higher than the urban background measured ∼23 km downwind (1.2 × 104 vs 9.5 × 103 particles/cm3). Distinct aerosol dynamics were observed within the burn zone that may contribute to elevated particle number concentrations, including (1) formation and growth of ultrafine particles and (2) shrinkage and disintegration of submicron particles. Together, these observations demonstrate that the postfire period represents an active and evolving phase of WUI particle emissions with important implications for human exposure and health.
Keywords:
Wildland−Urban Interface (WUI) Fires
Postfire Airborne Particles
Particle Size Distributions
Particle Formation and Growth
Particle Shrinkage and Disintegration

Journal

E
Environmental Science & Technology Letters
IF:
8.8
Papers:
148
Citations:
0

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georgia institute of technology
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university of california
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california institute of technology
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