Burning peat bogs in Moscow. Why are peatlands burning?

Recently, due to certain conditions, especially in the summer season, there is often a critical fire situation in the zone of the central region of Russia, when the marshes light up. Most of all, one can observe burning peat bogs in Moscow, as well as other cities that are covered by thick smoke (smog).

The use of marshes

Peatlands provide a lot of beneficial actions for the inhabitants of the planet, namely:

• Facilitate air fluctuations;
• Saturate rivers with water, take away excess moisture as a result of melting snow and reduce floods;
• Maintain a constant level of groundwater in the surrounding soils, even in drought;
• Are presented to mankind as a gift of game, berries and mushrooms;
• Provide shelter and food for a variety of species of animals and plants.

There are separate breeds of plants that, when they are in a moist environment, do not disintegrate, like the rest. They are compressed into an inseparable mass, creating a so-called peat, which is absolutely unique material. It is like a sponge, only liquids can absorb much more!

Why are peatlands burning?

Marsh fires are often considered a violation of the safety rules of "playing with fire." In addition, flashing may occur due to excessively high temperatures (above 40-45 degrees) or in the event of a lightning strike in the ground cover. Also, grassland, forest and mountain fires can turn into a fire of peat. Their flame passes into the depths of marshy raw materials, where there are roots of various trees or bushes. Burning peat bogs, as a rule, can be seen only in the summer, when the soil already in abundance has accumulated organic remains and the heat has got into the interior of the marshy layer.

What you should know about peat fires

Smoke is the result of the burning of peat, which is the usual light gray and fragrant mix of flashing products of inseparable sources, having a mixture of finely divided dense matter (their volume is from 20 to 400 microns), gases and vapors.

In this regard, when the marshes light up, a whole "bouquet" of the effects of combustion is formed, containing not only carbon monoxide, but also hot mixtures containing part of nitrogen and oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, peat in the form of soot and other related compounds. Hence it follows that it is necessary to protect your body from all these destructive combustion results and stay away from the places where peat bogs are burning.

In the process of such burning, smoke rises upward. The point at which the combustion outcomes can rise is capable of varying from 2 m to several hundred. All this is due to the state of the internal layers of air (temperature of the earth and atmosphere, time of day, wind speed, and many other factors). Some argue that when burning peat bogs to escape from the smoke, climbing to the roof of the house is undesirable, while others think that the conditions of contamination on the upper floors are lower, especially in the evening and at night, with a light wind.

Effects of products of burning bogs on the human body

It is very important to realize, by what method the results of combustion of peat and forest fires affect the human body. Large grains of soot, which secrete burning peat bogs, can be easily overcome with a medical bandage. It will save the lungs and bronchi.

For prevention of laryngeal perforation it will be enough to rinse it with a light alkaline mixture (for example, 5% soda solution), to do a wet cleaning of the room or to take a hygienic shower.

Gauze mask is not the best protection

It is much more difficult to resist carbon compounds and other associated gases. It is necessary to know that a medical or cotton-gauze bandage does not save it, but, on the contrary, worsens a person's condition, as it causes resistance to breathing and reduces gas exchange in the lungs.

In this regard, a person must choose for himself the order of actions when burning peat bogs will take place. What period should be in urban transport, on the street, in the room and how much time to wear a mask? The main criterion here is the state of the organism (healthy or sick, elderly or young) and well-being (headaches, loss of strength, weakness).

To date, there is no published data on the negative effect of smoke (smog) on the human body and the formation of chronic ailments. One can only hear some stories about the deterioration of general health as a result of summer heat. And burning peat bogs are also the cause.

How to protect yourself from smoke in peat fires

There are some methods of protecting such disasters.

1. If possible, leave a place for smoke for a while.
2. As little as possible to be in the air, especially early in the morning. During this period, the accumulation of toxic substances in the atmosphere is greatest. You should not also run in the morning.
3. It is better to use sour-milk products, alkaline and salted water, but not sweet soda.
4. It is important to take a multivitamin (if there are no contraindications).
5. When burning peat bogs strongly emit the smell of burning, it is advised to wear protective dressings, and doors and windows should be curtained with a wet cloth (gauze, sheet). In particular, it concerns elderly people and those who suffer from allergies, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic lung ailments.
6. In the rooms it is necessary to make a wet cleaning at least once a day.
7. Take a shower 2-3 times a day.
8. Rinse throat and nose with saline or seawater.
9. In food, give preference to vegetables and fruits with the maximum amount of minerals.
10. Do not drink alcohol, limit yourself to smoking. All this causes the formation of chronic and severe diseases of the respiratory system.
11. If cough and shortness of breath are found, you should consult a doctor.
12. More should be in rooms where the air conditioner or air cleaner works.
13. As often as possible walk in the forest park area.

Are peatlands burning in other regions or countries? This is best known to those residents who live in the areas where the swamps are located.