ash can

In airports, ash can coat runways, hurt airport personnel and cause a number of other logistical issues.

Ash can shift the pH rapidly, according to University of New Hampshire extension and can easily be overdone.

Coal ash can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, throat, nose and throat.

If consumed, the ash can also cause vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, according to the U.S.

The sheer quantity of wildfire debris can also choke out freshwater ecosystems, a much lower risk in the ocean, where ash can settle to the bottom.