THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology
Committee on the Chemistry of Urban Wildfires
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Congressional Briefing
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 – 2:15 p.m.
via Zoom
on
The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, evaluates existing and needed chemistry information that decision-makers can use to mitigate the wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires and their potential health impacts. It describes key fuels of concern in WUI fires, especially household components like siding, insulation, and plastic, examines key pathways for exposure, including inhalation and ingestion, and identifies communities vulnerable to exposures. The report recommends a research agenda to inform response to and prevention of WUI fires, outlining needs in characterizing fuels, and predicting emissions and toxicants.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on September 14, 2022 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.