@article{10.1021/envhealth.6c00221,
    author = {Maji, Kamal J. and Li, Zongrun and Hu, Yongtao and Stowell, Jennifer D. and Vaidyanathan, Ambarish and Milando, Chad W. and Wellenius, Gregory A. and Kinney, Patrick L. and Russell, Armistead G. and Odman, M. Talat},
    title = {O3 Increment
from Prescribed Burns: Implications
for Air Quality and Public Health in the Southeastern United States},
    journal = {Environment & Health},
    year = {2026},
    month = {10},
    abstract = {Prescribed
fire (PF) is extensively practiced across the southeastern
United States (US) to maintain fire-adapted ecosystems and reduce
wildfire risk. However, PF emits substantial quantities of ozone (O3) precursors that can elevate ground-level O3 through
photochemical reactions. This study quantified PF contributions to
ambient O3 and associated premature mortality across 12
southeastern US states from 2013 to 2021 using the Community Multiscale
Air Quality (CMAQ) model at 12-km resolution. Model results were calibrated
through data fusion with surface observations, and sensitivity to
spatial resolution was examined with a nested 4-km simulation over
Georgia. At 12-km resolution, contribution from PFs to daily maximum
8-h average O3 (MDA8 O3) concentrations averaged
to 0.34 ± 0.12 ppb across the region, accounting for ∼0.9\%
of ambient levels. The PF contribution to daily maximum 1-h average
O3 (MDA1 O3) averaged to 0.46 ± 0.18 ppb
or ∼1.1\% of ambient MDA1 O3. At state level, highest
annual average PF-MDA8 O3 (0.59 ± 0.14 ppb) and PF-MDA1
O3 (0.84 ± 0.22 ppb) were estimated in Georgia. Seasonal
peaks (January–April) coincided with higher burning activity,
with PF-MDA1 O3 exceeding 1.0 ppb in Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, and South Carolina. During the nine-year period, PF-related
MDA8 O3 exposure (short-term + long-term) associated 8925
(95\% CI: 6273–11,567) premature all-cause deaths, with 62\%
linked to long-term exposure. Florida (2618), Georgia (1465), and
North Carolina (910) experienced the highest absolute mortality burdens.
The 4-km resolution model performed better than the 12-km model in
estimating MDA8 O3 concentrations. In Georgia, the 4-km
simulation estimated approximately 10\% lower PF-MDA8 O3 concentrations and, consequently, approximately 10\% fewer PF-MDA8
O3-attributable premature deaths than the 12-km simulation.
These findings highlight the regional health relevance of PF-related
O3 and underscore the need to integrate air-quality and
public-health considerations into future PF management, particularly
under climate-driven increases in fire activity.},
    issn = {2833-8278},
    doi = {10.1021/envhealth.6c00221},
    url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.6c00221},
    eprint = {https://pubs.acs.org/ehnea2/article-pdf/doi/10.1021/envhealth.6c00221/69019887/envhealth.6c00221.pdf},
}