Forest Action Plans

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New insight into hazards of forest fire smoke

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, report that a “substantial fraction” of the tiny particles in forest fire smoke are plant alkaloids, which can be toxic. Because these compounds eventually find their way back to the ground and water, forest fires may be a significant source of biologically useful nitrogen and may affect cloud formation and precipitation patterns as well.

Issue Topic: 
Climate Change

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