Sub-Clinical Effects of Outdoor Smoke in Affected Communities

Many Australians are intermittently exposed to landscape fire smoke from wildfires or planned (prescribed) burns. This study aimed to investigate effects of outdoor smoke from planned burns, wildfires and a coal mine fire by assessing biomarkers of inflammation in an exposed and predominantly older population. Participants were recruited from three communities in south-eastern Australia. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were continuously measured within these communities, with participants performing a range of health measures during and without a smoke event. Changes in biomarkers were examined in response to PM2.5 concentrations from outdoor smoke. Increased levels of FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) (β = 0.500 [95%CI 0.192 to 0.808] p < 0.001) at a 4 h lag were associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 levels from outdoor smoke, with effects also shown for wildfire smoke at 4, 12, 24 and 48-h lag periods and coal mine fire smoke at a 4 h lag. Total white cell (β = −0.088 [−0.171 to −0.006] p = 0.036) and neutrophil counts (β = −0.077 [−0.144 to −0.010] p = 0.024) declined in response to a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5. However, exposure to outdoor smoke resulting from wildfires, planned burns and a coal mine fire was not found to affect other blood biomarkers.

Download Full-text

Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter from a large coal mine fire is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2019.108956 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 183 ◽

pp. 108956 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Shannon M. Melody ◽

Jane B. Ford ◽

Karen Wills ◽

Alison Venn ◽

Fay H. Johnston

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Coal Mine Fire

Download Full-text

Fine Particulate Matter and Medications Dispensed during and after a Brown Coal Mine Fire: A Time Series Analysis

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isesisee.2018.p02.1550 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amanda Johnson ◽

Joanna Dipnall ◽

Martine Dennekamp ◽

Grant Williamson ◽

Caroline Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Time Series Analysis ◽

Brown Coal ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Series Analysis ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Coal Mine Fire

Download Full-text

Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter from a coal mine fire and birth outcomes in Victoria, Australia

Environment International ◽

10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. 233-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shannon M. Melody ◽

Jane Ford ◽

Karen Wills ◽

Alison Venn ◽

Fay H. Johnston

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Birth Outcomes ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Maternal Exposure ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Coal Mine Fire

Download Full-text

Fine particulate matter exposure and medication dispensing during and after a coal mine fire: A time series analysis from the Hazelwood Health Study

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2018.12.085 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 246 ◽

pp. 1027-1035 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Amanda L. Johnson ◽

Joanna F. Dipnall ◽

Martine Dennekamp ◽

Grant J. Williamson ◽

Caroline X. Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Time Series Analysis ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Health Study ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Coal Mine Fire ◽

Particulate Matter Exposure

Download Full-text

Coal-mine fire-related fine particulate matter and medical-service utilization in Australia: a time-series analysis from the Hazelwood Health Study

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/dyz219 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 80-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Amanda L Johnson ◽

Caroline X Gao ◽

Martine Dennekamp ◽

Grant J Williamson ◽

Matthew T C Carroll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Service Utilization ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Medical Service ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Men And Women ◽

Medical Service Utilization ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Coal Mine Fire

Abstract Background This study assessed the association between coal-mine-fire-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and medical-service utilization, following a 6-week coal-mine fire in Australia, in 2014. Areas in the immediate vicinity of the mine experienced hourly mine-fire-related PM2.5 concentrations of up to 3700 μg/m3. Methods Data on medical-service utilization were collected from the Medicare Benefits Schedule—a national database of payment for medical services. PM2.5 concentrations were modelled using atmospheric chemical transport modelling. Quasi-Poisson interrupted distributed lag time-series analysis examined the association between daily mine-fire-related PM2.5 concentrations and medical-service utilization, including General Practitioner (GP) consultations and respiratory, cardiovascular and mental health services. Confounders included seasonality, long-term trend, day of the week, maximum daily temperature and public holidays. Gender and age stratification were conducted. Results A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increased relative risk of service usage for all long and short GP consultations [11% (95% confidence interval: 7 to 15%)] and respiratory services [22% (4 to 43%)] in both men and women. Sex stratification found an increased relative risk in mental health consultations in men [32% (2 to 72%)] but not women. No associations were found for cardiovascular services in men or women. Conclusions Coal-mine-fire-related PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of medical services for GP consultations and respiratory services in men and women and mental health consultations in men. These findings can inform the development of future public-health-policy responses in the event of major air-pollution episodes.

Download Full-text

Long term impact of coal mine fire smoke on lung mechanics in exposed adults

10.1101/2020.10.14.20213009 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicolette R Holt ◽

Caroline X. Gao ◽

Brigitte M Borg ◽

David Brown ◽

Jonathan C Broder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coal Mine ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Lung Mechanics ◽

Health Study ◽

Forced Oscillation Technique ◽

Mine Fire ◽

Fire Smoke ◽

Coal Mine Fire ◽

Long Term Impact

AbstractIn 2014, a six-week long fire at the Hazelwood open cut coal mine exposed residents in the adjacent town of Morwell to high concentrations of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5μm (PM2.5). The long-term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study (HHS).Approximately 3.5 to 4 years after the mine fire, adults from Morwell (n=346) and the comparison town Sale (n=173) participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the HHS. Individual fire-related PM2.5 exposure was retrospectively modelled. Lung mechanics were assessed using the forced oscillation technique (FOT), which utilises pressure waves to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations between PM2.5 and transformed Rrs5, area under the reactance curve (AX5) and Xrs5 controlling for key confounding factors.There were clear dose-response relationships between increasing mine fire PM2.5 and worsening lung mechanics, including a reduction in post-bronchodilator Xrs5 and an increase in AX5. A 10 μg/m3 increase in mine fire related PM2.5 was associated with a 0.015 (95%CI: 0.004, 0.027) reduction in exponential(Xrs5) post bronchodilator, which was comparable to 4.7 years of aging. Similarly, the effect of exposure was associated with a 0.072 (0.005, 0.138) increase in natural log(AX5) post-bronchodilator, equivalent to 3.9 years of aging.This is the first study using FOT in adults evaluating long term respiratory outcomes after a medium-term ambient PM2.5 exposure to coal mine fire smoke. These results should inform public health policies and planning for future events.

Download Full-text