A review on the impact of wildfires on ecosystems, water quality, and health risks to humans 

Abstract

Due to global warming, climatic changes, and enhanced anthropogenic activities (due to population growth) over the past 20 years, the number and intensity of wildfires have increased manifold around the world. Although forest fire is integral to shaping the forest’s flora and fauna and maintaining the environment’s health, frequent fires and their severity are causing several adverse impacts on the environment, aquatic organisms, wild animals, and humans. Wildfire releases the volatile organic pollutants in the environment (in the form of smoke), inducing changes in soil physicochemical properties and affecting the hydrological cycle. The pH values of soil and surface water are altered due to ash, which adversely impacts the aquatic organisms and soil microbes. The soil’s water retention capacity significantly reduced (35-45%). The smoke generated during wildfires adversely affects the health of wild animals and humans. Trends that are predicted to continue are not only a natural disturber of forests and ecosystems but also significantly affect human and wild animals’ health adversely. Wildfires not only damage forests and have a negative impact on human and animal health but also threaten water security, increase the probability of flooding, and increase economic losses. In-depth research and understanding on this topic are urgently needed for the better management of forest ecosystems. In this review research information publish after 2019 was considered and we have discussed the recent update in wildfire and forest fire, their causes, impacts on the soil quality, water resources, biodiversity and human health, and this article will serve as the basis for future wildfire research