Amazon Rainforest Fires Cause Ozone Pollution and Damage to the Rainforest

On October 7, a research team from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom released a study indicating that pollutants emitted by Amazon rainforest fires undergo photochemical reactions to form ground-level ozone, which damages leaves and inhibits photosynthesis. This reduces the rainforest’s carbon absorption by an amount equivalent to 24 percent of the carbon emissions from the fires. Influenced by a super El Niño, drought conditions have intensified, increasing the risk of wildfires and ozone pollution and creating a vicious cycle. Additionally, smoke and particulate matter cross borders, polluting the air in many South American countries.