By Vanessa Ybarra

TRU professor warns of dangers of wildfire smoke in new book

Nov 18, 2017 | 10:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — A TRU professor is writing a book on the health effects of various air pollutants that will include a chapter on this summer’s wildfires.

“It’s really important that we understand the nature of the risk and how it’s managed,” said Michael Mehta, Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at TRU. “There was a lot of government mismanagement of the exposures and denial on the part of government as well as everyday people to admit that these risks exist.”

According to Mehta, wood smoke contains more than 200 toxic chemicals and can cause a vareity of health issues for people of all ages.

“There’s studies that link air pollution to kidney disease. There are even a large number of studies emerging on osteoporosis risks where pollution is affecting the important proteins and hormones that are responsible for laying down mass.”

Mehta says his book will focus on public reaction to the summer wildfires, government response as well a comparison of air quality data provided by the environment ministry and the air quality monitoring website Purple Air.

Question of the Week

If the time change was eliminated in B.C., which time would you prefer?

6h ago

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Oct. 28

10h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sometimes you have to abandon your principles and yield to your natural instinct

Nov 03, 2024

“The objective is to explain to the public how our understanding of air pollution has changed and to stimulate changes in policy and cue family doctors to look for the effects of exposure to air pollution.”

The city reached a stagering level 49 on the Air Health Quality Index during the height of the wildfire season.

It was the worst air quality recorded in recent history in Kamloops. 

Mehta is taking a six month sabbatical in December to write the book.

He expects to have it publihed in the next two to three years.