Additive effect of wildfires on hospital admission in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Forest fires release toxic pollutants from burning vegetation, posing serious risks to human health. The Brazilian Pantanal—the world’s largest continuous wetland—is currently experiencing severe wildfires. This situation may lead to a spike in hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. To assess the health impacts of these fires on local populations, we applied a generalized linear model incorporating geographic variables, including air quality and climate data. This approach allowed us to evaluate the relationship between active fire outbreaks and hospitalizations among residents of the Pantanal. Our results reveal a troubling pattern: an increase of 10 active fires is associated with a significant rise in daily hospitalizations. Over a 10-year period, the risk of respiratory hospitalizations rose by 23.2%, while cardiovascular hospitalizations increased by 22.3% for every 10 additional fires. These findings underscore the urgent need for preventive action. By forecasting the potential daily rise in hospital admissions, our study offers valuable insights to help Brazilian authorities implement fire mitigation strategies and strengthen the preparedness of the local healthcare system.

Keywords

• Brazilian pantanal
• Forest fires
• Hospital admission
• Respiratory diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• General linear model