Canada’s Current Dystopia: Wild Fires
Wildfires play an essential ecological role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help rejuvenate forests by clearing out old vegetation, promoting seed germination, and enhancing nutrient cycling. Certain plant species even rely on fire for their regeneration. However, intense or frequent wildfires can cause significant ecological disruptions, including loss of habitat and biodiversity, changes in soil composition, and alteration of ecosystem processes.
In a 2022 population-based observational cohort study conducted by Korsiak et al., there is now evidence suggesting that exposure to wildfires is linked to lung cancer and even brain tumours. As the Canadian wildfire crisis worsens, I urge you to read up on this article and reflect on how your individual actions regarding climate change and sustainability may be affecting your own health.