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Torfaen recorded the fourth-highest carbon emission intensity from wildfires in the world during July, according to a children’s charity.
Save the Children said its analysis of European Union data showed the area ranked just behind locations in Algeria, Spain, and Angola for emissions per square kilometre.
Torfaen County Borough Council said it was unaware of the research, but acknowledged prolonged fires had elevated particulate concentrations in the air locally.
A fire above Blaenavon, that started on July 19, burned for more than a month and was described by the fire brigade as “one of the largest and most challenging in South Wales in recent years”.
Combined with other blazes across the region, it contributed to a major incident being declared, which eventually required military assistance.
Save the Children examined data from the EU’s Copernicus programme, which tracks global wildfires. The charity warned that around 20,000 under-19s live in Torfaen, putting them at risk from “extremely unusual” emission levels compared to historical averages.
Melanie Simmonds, head of Save the Children Wales said: “In Wales and across the world, children are breathing in smoke from wildfires, coping with extreme heat and losing the freedom to play outdoors because the air is no longer safe. These conditions are not only frightening – they carry serious health consequences for children whose bodies and lungs are still developing.”
A Torfaen council spokeswoman said: “The council was not aware of Save the Children’s research. Furthermore, it is not clear what data or evidence was used in the assessment to arrive at the reported conclusion.
“The council recognises that prolonged wildfire incidents have the potential to adversely affect local air quality, particularly through increased levels of smoke and particulate matter.”
The council continuously monitors air quality in Torfaen through a monitoring station in Croesyceiliog Cwmbran, with periodic data published on a council website.
“The Cwmbran site is officially designated an ‘Urban Background’ monitoring station and is not designed to be moved in response to localised incidents such wildfires,” said the spokeswoman: “However, data from this site provides an indication as to the general levels of air pollution in the wider environment.”
They added air pollution levels can be influenced by weather conditions and wind direction and air quality monitoring data will continue to be reviewed as part of the council’s ongoing Local Air Quality Management duties.
“While elevated particulate concentrations have been observed during the wildfire period, the council’s monitoring station is intended to provide information on general background air quality rather than conditions at specific locations immediately adjacent to the fires,” said the spokeswoman.
Professor Sarah Jones, consultant in environmental public health for NHS body Public Health Wales, said a number of factors lead to it deciding assessments of the impact of the smoke could be based on the fixed air monitoring stations in place across Wales.
Those factors included the “rapidly changing” fire fronts and wind changes across Wales, the “well understood” composition of the smoke and the heat causing smoke to rise to the atmosphere where it was diluted and reducing the concentration.
“At times, the fixed monitors recorded high and very high levels of air pollution, as defined by the daily air quality index,” said Prof Jones.
When the fires were burning people were advised to stay indoors and close doors and windows.
Blaenavon councillor Janet Jones said changes in the wind direction, and a welcome “drop of rain” have helped improve air quality locally but described smoke on Thursday, August 13, which was three weeks after the fire first ignited, as “particularly bad”.
The independent councillor said though she wasn’t aware of the research by Save the Children she will raise it with the borough council: “It is quite interesting and I will take it up with the relevant officers and it will need some sort of investigation.”
She described Blaenavon as an industrial area with many former miners: “There was great concern about air quality and the impact on elderly people and those suffering with respiratory issues such as emphysema and COPD.
“It hasn’t affected me personally, but I know other people have had issues, especially the people living in close proximity, and have had to put their washing out again or redo it.
“I have spoken to some of the GP nurses and asked if they’ve seen an increase in patients complaining, or showing concerns, of respiratory problems. I spoke to them two weeks ago, and they hadn’t noticed any significant increase in that time, but it is something that could change in the months ahead.”