Wildfire legacy and nanoparticle occurrence across post-fire landscapes of south-central Chile

Abstract

Wildfires are increasingly transforming the nanoscale geochemistry of terrestrial systems, yet the persistence and environmental pathways of fire-derived nanoparticles (NPs) remain largely unexplored. This study examines the production, composition, and post-fire mobility of metallic and multimetallic NPs generated by the 2023 megafires in the Biobío Region of south-central Chile. Field sampling of burned soils, vegetation, and surface waters, complemented by controlled combustion experiments, revealed abundant metal-bearing NPs in post-fire compartments, including complex particles such as Fe–Mn, Fe–Ti–Mn, and Ti–Zn. Intermediate fire temperatures produced the highest NP yields and compositional diversity, whereas the highest-temperature treatment favoured a lower-yield, Mn-selective ultrafine assemblage. Mn-bearing NPs emerged as a selective pyrogenic signal in burned vegetation and surface soils, while Fe–Ti-bearing particles formed a more recurrent, mass-dominant soil reservoir. Post-fire streams contained Fe-bearing colloids (108–109 NPs L−1), highlighting their occurrence in surface waters more than a year after the fire. Hydrochemical patterns further suggested a soluble post-fire component, with a positive relationship between Cl−/Na+ and S/Na+ consistent with an anion-rich salt-leaching fingerprint. Recurrent nanoparticle signatures—such as Fe–Ti–Mn, Ti–Zn, and Ce–La associations—emerged as potential indicators of combustion conditions and post-fire redistribution. These findings indicate that large fires can leave a post-fire nanogeochemical signature, highlighting nanoparticles as sensitive tracers of combustion processes and potential carriers of metals in fire-affected landscapes.

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BibTeX

@article{suarezoubina2026wildfire,
  title = {{Wildfire legacy and nanoparticle occurrence across post-fire landscapes of south-central Chile}},
  author = {Cristian Suárez-Oubiña and Sélène Calvel and Mickael Tharaud and Nirina Taraconat and Véronique Michot and Emma Andrieux and Marc Benedetti},
  journal = {Environmental science‎.Nano},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1039/d6en00462h},
  url = {https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05753298v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Wildfire legacy and nanoparticle occurrence across post-fire landscapes of south-central Chile
AU  - Cristian Suárez-Oubiña
AU  - Sélène Calvel
AU  - Mickael Tharaud
AU  - Nirina Taraconat
AU  - Véronique Michot
AU  - Emma Andrieux
AU  - Marc Benedetti
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/08
JO  - Environmental science‎.Nano
DO  - 10.1039/d6en00462h
UR  - https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05753298v1
AB  - Wildfires are increasingly transforming the nanoscale geochemistry of terrestrial systems, yet the persistence and environmental pathways of fire-derived nanoparticles (NPs) remain largely unexplored. This study examines the production, composition, and post-fire mobility of metallic and multimetallic NPs generated by the 2023 megafires in the Biobío Region of south-central Chile. Field sampling of burned soils, vegetation, and surface waters, complemented by controlled combustion experiments, revealed abundant metal-bearing NPs in post-fire compartments, including complex particles such as Fe–Mn, Fe–Ti–Mn, and Ti–Zn. Intermediate fire temperatures produced the highest NP yields and compositional diversity, whereas the highest-temperature treatment favoured a lower-yield, Mn-selective ultrafine assemblage. Mn-bearing NPs emerged as a selective pyrogenic signal in burned vegetation and surface soils, while Fe–Ti-bearing particles formed a more recurrent, mass-dominant soil reservoir. Post-fire streams contained Fe-bearing colloids (108–109 NPs L−1), highlighting their occurrence in surface waters more than a year after the fire. Hydrochemical patterns further suggested a soluble post-fire component, with a positive relationship between Cl−/Na+ and S/Na+ consistent with an anion-rich salt-leaching fingerprint. Recurrent nanoparticle signatures—such as Fe–Ti–Mn, Ti–Zn, and Ce–La associations—emerged as potential indicators of combustion conditions and post-fire redistribution. These findings indicate that large fires can leave a post-fire nanogeochemical signature, highlighting nanoparticles as sensitive tracers of combustion processes and potential carriers of metals in fire-affected landscapes.
SN  - 2051-8153
ER  -

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