Greece: Greek wildfires leave residents exposed to toxic smoke.

Shotlist Athens, Greece - Recent 1. Various of resident Sotiris Lioris speaking, staying with his wife; medication, mask on table 2. SOUNDBITE (Greek, dubbed in English) Sotiris Lioris, resident: "When it comes to my breathing, I get shortness of breath and tachycardia. And I can also hear the valve." 3. Lioris talking with reporter 4. Various of Lioris putting on mask, speaking 5. Various of street view, pedestrians 6. SOUNDBITE (Greek, dubbed in English) Armodios Drikos, mayor of Mandra-Eidyllia (ending with shot 7): "A fire, a wildfire, and its consequences do not end when the fire is extinguished. The particles emitted by wildfires burden the atmosphere for many months." 7. Aerial shots of factory on fire 8. Various of wildfire, vehicles 9. Various of helicopter flying, sunset Storyline Wildfires burning west of Athens, Greece, are ravaging forests and homes while unleashing toxic smoke from burned industrial zones, exposing residents to prolonged health risks from airborne particles that persist even after the fires are out. Heatwave-induced fires are raging across southern Europe and have reached Mandra-Eidyllia, west of Athens. The municipality lies close to Aspropyrgos, one of Greece's major industrial zones. Consequently, the fires can produce dangerously toxic smoke from burnt industrial materials. Sotiris Lioris, a resident with heart and lung conditions, keeps a mask and medication close at hand. His cardiologist has warned him to stay away from wildfire smoke. "When it comes to my breathing, I get shortness of breath and tachycardia. And I can also hear the valve," Lioris said. Wildfires can sweep through dry land, forests, and communities, and sometimes reach factories, warehouses, and recycling sites. Armodios Drikos, the mayor of Mandra-Eidyllia, is also a cardiologist. Having treated many residents in the area, he is acutely aware of the health dangers posed by these fires. "A fire, a wildfire, and its consequences do not end when the fire is extinguished. The particles emitted by wildfires burden the atmosphere for many months," Drikos said. Doctors warn that invisible particles can remain a threat in the air for days, weeks, or even longer. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]