ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5150-8678
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety | Epidemiology | Public Health and Health Services | Forestry Sciences | Environmental Management | Fire Management | Natural Hazards | Environmental Science and Management | Environmental Impact Assessment | Environmental Chemistry (Incl. Atmospheric Chemistry) | Landscape Ecology | Urban and Regional Studies (excl. Planning) |
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Environmental Health | Land and water management | Air quality | Natural Hazards in Forest and Woodlands Environments | Environmental health | Rural Land Policy | Social Impacts of Climate Change and Variability | Health Protection and/or Disaster Response
Related Links
Publications
Vegetation fire smoke, indigenous status and cardio-respiratory hospital admissions in Darwin, Australia, 1996–2005: a time-series study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-08-2008
Maternal Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Pregnancy Complications in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-04-2020
Abstract: The relationship between maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and pregnancy complications is not well characterized. We aimed to explore the relationship between maternal exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and placental abruption. Using administrative data, we defined a state-wide cohort of singleton pregnancies born between 1 March 2012 and 31 December 2015 in Victoria, Australia. Annual average NO2 and PM2.5 was assigned to maternal residence at the time of birth. 285,594 singleton pregnancies were included. An IQR increase in NO2 (3.9 ppb) was associated with reduced likelihood of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (RR 0.89 95%CI 0.86, 0.91), GDM (RR 0.92 95%CI 0.90, 0.94) and placental abruption (RR 0.81 95%CI 0.69, 0.95). Mixed observations and smaller effect sizes were observed for IQR increases in PM2.5 (1.3 µg/m3) and pregnancy complications reduced likelihood of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (RR 0.95 95%CI 0.93, 0.97), increased likelihood of GDM (RR 1.02 95%CI 1.00, 1.03) and no relationship for placental abruption. In this exploratory study using an annual metric of exposure, findings were largely inconsistent with a priori expectations and further research involving temporally resolved exposure estimates are required.
The 2022 report of the MJA – Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia unprepared and paying the price
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-10-2022
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.51742
Abstract: The MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change in Australia was established in 2017 and produced its first national assessment in 2018 and annual updates in 2019, 2020 and 2021. It examines five broad domains: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerability adaptation, planning and resilience for health mitigation actions and health co-benefits economics and finance and public and political engagement. In this, the fifth year of the MJA-Lancet Countdown, we track progress on an extensive suite of indicators across these five domains, accessing and presenting the latest data and further refining and developing our analyses. Within just two years, Australia has experienced two unprecedented national catastrophes - the 2019-2020 summer heatwaves and bushfires and the 2021-2022 torrential rains and flooding. Such events are costing lives and displacing tens of thousands of people. Further, our analysis shows that there are clear signs that Australia's health emergency management capacity substantially decreased in 2021. We find some signs of progress with respect to health and climate change. The states continue to lead the way in health and climate change adaptation planning, with the Victorian plan being published in early 2022. At the national level, we note progress in health and climate change research funding by the National Health and Medical Research Council. We now also see an acceleration in the uptake of electric vehicles and continued uptake of and employment in renewable energy. However, we also find Australia's transition to renewables and zero carbon remains unacceptably slow, and the Australian Government's continuing failure to produce a national climate change and health adaptation plan places the health and lives of Australians at unnecessary risk today, which does not bode well for the future.
Coal mine fires and human health: What do we know?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
Predicting the minimum height of forest fire smoke within the atmosphere using machine learning and data from the CALIPSO satellite
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2018
Estimated Global Mortality Attributable to Smoke from Landscape Fires
Publisher: Environmental Health Perspectives
Date: 05-2012
DOI: 10.1289/EHP.1104422
Air pollution events from forest fires and emergency department attendances in Sydney, Australia 1996–2007: a case-crossover analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2014
The 2019 report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-11-2019
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50405
Abstract: The MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change was established in 2017 and produced its first Australian national assessment in 2018. It examined 41 indicators across five broad domains: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerability adaptation, planning and resilience for health mitigation actions and health co-benefits economics and finance and public and political engagement. It found that, overall, Australia is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on health, and that policy inaction in this regard threatens Australian lives. In this report we present the 2019 update. We track progress on health and climate change in Australia across the same five broad domains and many of the same indicators as in 2018. A number of new indicators are introduced this year, including one focused on wildfire exposure, and another on engagement in health and climate change in the corporate sector. Several of the previously reported indicators are not included this year, either due to their discontinuation by the parent project, the Lancet Countdown, or because insufficient new data were available for us to meaningfully provide an update to the indicator. In a year marked by an Australian federal election in which climate change featured prominently, we find mixed progress on health and climate change in this country. There has been progress in renewable energy generation, including substantial employment increases in this sector. There has also been some progress at state and local government level. However, there continues to be no engagement on health and climate change in the Australian federal Parliament, and Australia performs poorly across many of the indicators in comparison to other developed countries for ex le, it is one of the world's largest net exporters of coal and its electricity generation from low carbon sources is low. We also find significantly increasing exposure of Australians to heatwaves and, in most states and territories, continuing elevated suicide rates at higher temperatures. We conclude that Australia remains at significant risk of declines in health due to climate change, and that substantial and sustained national action is urgently required in order to prevent this.
Adverse birth outcomes in Victoria, Australia in association with maternal exposure to low levels of ambient air pollution
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with coronary artery calcification among asymptomatic adults
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-2021
Abstract: We investigated the effects of exposure to very low levels of particulate matter & .5 µm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on coronary calcium score (CCS) in asymptomatic adults who are free of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study included 606 asymptomatic adults (49% men, aged 56±7 years) recruited from communities in three states of Australia during 2017–2018. CCS was measured using coronary computed tomography scan at recruitment. Annual PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were estimated on the year before recruitment using statistical exposure models and assigned to each participant’s residential address. Medical history, physical measurements, biochemistry, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic status were also recorded. Median concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were 6.9 µg/m3 [interquartile range (IQR) 6.0–7.7)] and 3.1 ppb [IQR 2.2–4.5], respectively. Of the 606 participants, 16% had high CCS (≥100) and 4% had very high CCS (≥400). Exposure to higher PM2.5 (per µg/m3) was significantly associated with greater odds of having high CCS (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.43) and very high CCS (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.05–2.29). Similar associations were observed for NO2 and high CCS (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.27) and very high CCS (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07–1.51). These findings were robust to adjustment for sociodemographic factors, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, renal function, education, and socio-economic status. Ambient air pollution even at low concentration was associated with degree of coronary artery calcification among asymptomatic low cardiovascular risk adults, independent of other risk factors. These findings suggest that air pollution is one of the residual risk factors of CAD.
The macroecology of airborne pollen in Australian and New Zealand urban areas
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-05-2014
Reflections on the Catastrophic 2019–2020 Australian Bushfires
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2020
Is remaining indoors an effective way of reducing exposure to fine particulate matter during biomass burning events?
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-02-2019
DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1567623
Abstract: Bushfires, prescribed burns, and residential wood burning are significant sources of fine particles (aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm PM
Health impacts of ambient biomass smoke in Tasmania, Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-05-2020
Abstract: The island state of Tasmania has marked seasonal variations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations related to wood heating during winter, planned forest fires during autumn and spring, and bushfires during summer. Biomass smoke causes considerable health harms and associated costs. We estimated the historical health burden from PM2.5 attributable to wood heater smoke (WHS) and landscape fire smoke (LFS) in Tasmania between 2010 and 2019. We calculated the daily population level exposure to WHS- and LFS-related PM2.5 and estimated the number of cases and health costs due to premature mortality, cardiorespiratory hospital admissions, and asthma emergency department (ED) visits. We estimated 69 deaths, 86 hospital admissions, and 15 asthma ED visits, each year, with over 74% of impacts attributed to WHS. Average yearly costs associated with WHS were of AUD$ 293 million and AUD$ 16 million for LFS. The latter increased up to more than AUD$ 34 million during extreme bushfire seasons. This is the first study to quantify the health impacts attributable to biomass smoke for Tasmania. We estimated substantial impacts, which could be reduced through replacing heating technologies, improving fire management, and possibly implementing integrated strategies. This would most likely produce important and cost-effective health benefits.
Satellite-Based Land-Use Regression for Continental-Scale Long-Term Ambient PM 2.5 Exposure Assessment in Australia
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 02-10-2018
Abstract: Australia has relatively erse sources and low concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (<2.5 μm, PM
A mixed-methods study of the demographic and behavioural correlates of walking to a more distant bus stop
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Human–environmental drivers and impacts of the globally extreme 2017 Chilean fires
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-08-2018
Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter from a coal mine fire and birth outcomes in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2019.03.028
Abstract: The Hazelwood coal mine fire was an unprecedented event in Australian history that resulted in the surrounding towns in regional Victoria being covered in plumes of smoke and ash for six weeks in 2014. Evidence concerning adverse reproductive impacts associated with maternal exposure to ambient air pollution is expanding. Gaps remain regarding the relative impact of acute changes in outdoor air quality lasting days to months, such as that resulting from coal mine fires. Routinely collected perinatal data was used to define a complete cohort of singleton babies born within the affected region. Maternal average, and peak, fine particulate matter (PM There were a total of 3591 singleton livebirths during the study period 763 of which were in utero during the coal mine fire. Average PM Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter resulting from the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire did not appear to adversely effect fetal maturity. However, there was weak evidence of a trophic response among babies born to exposed mothers with gestational diabetes, a possible susceptibility that requires further exploration.
Roof cavity dust as an exposure proxy for extreme air pollution events
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
The impact of heat on mortality and morbidity in the Greater Metropolitan Sydney Region: a case crossover analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-11-2013
Abstract: This study examined the association between unusually high temperature and daily mortality (1997–2007) and hospital admissions (1997–2010) in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) to assist in the development of targeted health programs designed to minimise the public health impact of extreme heat. Sydney GMR was categorized into five climate zones. Heat-events were defined as severe or extreme. Using a time-stratified case-crossover design with a conditional logistic regression model we adjusted for influenza epidemics, public holidays, and climate zone. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for associations between daily mortality and hospital admissions with heat-event days compared to non-heat event days for single and three day heat-events. All-cause mortality overall had similar magnitude associations with single day and three day extreme and severe events as did all cardiovascular mortality. Respiratory mortality was associated with single day and three day severe events (95 th percentile, lag0: OR = 1.14 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.24). Diabetes mortality had similar magnitude associations with single day and three day severe events (95 th percentile, lag0: OR = 1.22 95%CI: 1.03 to 1.46) but was not associated with extreme events. Hospital admissions for heat related injuries, dehydration, and other fluid disorders were associated with single day and three day extreme and severe events. Contrary to our findings for mortality, we found inconsistent and sometimes inverse associations for extreme and severe events with cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease hospital admissions. Controlling for air pollutants did not influence the mortality associations but reduced the magnitude of the associations with hospital admissions particularly for ozone and respiratory disease. Single and three day events of unusually high temperatures in Sydney are associated with similar magnitude increases in mortality and hospital admissions. The trend towards an inverse association between cardio-vascular admissions and heat-events and the strong positive association between cardio-vascular mortality and heat-events suggests these events may lead to a rapid deterioration in persons with existing cardio-vascular disease resulting in death. To reduce the adverse effects of high temperatures over multiple days, and less extreme but more frequent temperatures over single days, targeted public health messages are critical.
The Relationship between Particulate Pollution Levels in Australian Cities, Meteorology, and Landscape Fire Activity Detected from MODIS Hotspots
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-10-2012
Extensible Database of Validated Biomass Smoke Events for Health Research
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-12-2018
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE1030050
Abstract: The extensible Biomass Smoke Validated Events Database is an ongoing, community driven, collection of air pollution events which are known to be caused by vegetation fires such as bushfires (also known as wildfire and wildland fires), or prescribed fuel reduction burns, and wood heaters. This is useful for researchers of health impacts who need to distinguish smoke from vegetation versus other sources. The overarching aim is to study statistical associations between biomass smoke pollution and health. Extreme pollution events may also be caused by dust storms or fossil fuel smog events and so validation is necessary to ensure the events being studied are from biomass. This database can be extended by contribution from other researchers outside the original team. There are several available protocols for adding validated smoke events to the database, to ensure standardization across datasets. Air pollution data can be included, and free software was created for identification of extreme values. Protocols are described for reference material needed as supporting evidence for event days. The utility of this database has previously been demonstrated in analyses of hospitalization and mortality. The database was created using open source software that works across operating systems. The prospect for future extensions to the database is enhanced by the description in this paper, and the availability of these data on the open access Github repository enables easy addition to the database with new data by the research community.
Evaluating User Preferences, Comprehension, and Trust in Apps for Environmental Health Hazards: Qualitative Case Study
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 22-12-2022
DOI: 10.2196/38471
Abstract: Climate change is projected to increase environmental health hazard risks through fire-related air pollution and increased airborne pollen levels. To protect vulnerable populations, it is imperative that evidence-based and accessible interventions are available. The environmental health app, AirRater, was developed in 2015 in Australia to provide information on multiple atmospheric health hazards in near real time. The app allows users to view local environmental conditions, and input and track their personal symptoms to enable behaviors that protect health in response to environmental hazards. This study aimed to develop insights into users’ perceptions of engagement, comprehension, and trust in AirRater to inform the future development of environmental health apps. Specifically, this study explored which AirRater features users engaged with, what additional features or functionality needs users felt they required, users’ self-perception of understanding app information, and their level of trust in the information provided. A total of 42 adult AirRater users were recruited from 3 locations in Australia to participate in semistructured interviews to capture location- or context-specific experiences. Participants were notified of the recruitment opportunity through multiple avenues including newsletter articles and social media. Informed consent was obtained before participation, and the participants were remunerated for their time and perspectives. A preinterview questionnaire collected data including age range, any preexisting conditions, and location (postcode). All participant data were deidentified. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo 12 (QSR International). Participants discussed app features and functionality, as well as their understanding of, and trust in, the information provided by the app. Most (26/42, 62%) participants used and valued visual environmental hazard features, especially maps, location settings, and hazard alerts. Most (33/42, 78%) found information in the app easy to understand and support their needs, irrespective of their self-reported literacy levels. Many (21/42, 50%) users reported that they did not question the accuracy of the data presented in the app. Suggested enhancements include the provision of meteorological information (eg, wind speed or direction, air pressure, UV rating, and humidity), functionality enhancements (eg, forecasting, additional alerts, and the inclusion of health advice), and clarification of existing information (eg, symptom triggers), including the capacity to download personal summary data for a specified period. Participants’ perspectives can inform the future development of environmental health apps. Specifically, participants’ insights support the identification of key elements for the optimal development of environmental health app design, including streamlining, capacity for users to customize, use of real time data, visual cues, credibility, and accuracy of data. The results also suggest that, in the future, iterative collaboration between developers, environmental agencies, and users will likely promote better functional design, user trust in the data, and ultimately better population health outcomes.
Healthy Country: Healthy People? Exploring the health benefits of Indigenous natural resource management
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2005
DOI: 10.1111/J.1467-842X.2005.TB00060.X
Abstract: Decades of health-related research have produced a large body of knowledge describing alarming rates of morbidity, mortality and social/cultural disruption among Indigenous Australians, but have failed to deliver sustainable interventions to arrest the deepening spiral of ill-health. This paper explores the potential of Indigenous natural resource management (NRM) activities to promote and preserve Indigenous health in remote areas of northern Australia. A literature review of the health, social science and ecology peer-reviewed journals and secondary literature. Effective interventions in Indigenous health will require trans-disciplinary, holistic approaches that explicitly incorporate Indigenous health beliefs and engage with the social and cultural drivers of health. Aboriginal peoples maintain a strong belief that continued association with and caring for ancestral lands is a key determinant of health. In idual engagement with 'country' provides opportunities for physical activity and improved diet as well as boosting in idual autonomy and self-esteem. Internationally, such culturally congruent health promotion activities have been successful in programs targeting substance abuse and chronic diseases. NRM is fundamental to the maintenance of bio ersity of northern Australia. Increased support for Indigenous involvement in land and sea NRM programs would also deliver concrete social benefits for communities including opportunities for sustainable and culturally apt regional employment, applied education and economic development. NRM may also reinvigorate societal/cultural constructs, increasing collective esteem and social cohesion.
Impact of smoke from prescribed burning: Is it a public health concern?
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 14-04-2015
DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2015.1032445
Abstract: Given the increase in wildfire intensity and frequency worldwide, prescribed burning is becoming a more common and widespread practice. Prescribed burning is a fire management tool used to reduce fuel loads for wildfire suppression purposes and occurs on an annual basis in many parts of the world. Smoke from prescribed burning can have a substantial impact on air quality and the environment. Prescribed burning is a significant source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 aerodynamic diameter<2.5µm) and these particulates are found to be consistently elevated during smoke events. Due to their fine nature PM2.5 are particularly harmful to human health. Here we discuss the impact of prescribed burning on air quality particularly focussing on PM2.5. We have summarised available case studies from Australia including a recent study we conducted in regional Victoria, Australia during the prescribed burning season in 2013. The studies reported very high short-term (hourly) concentrations of PM2.5 during prescribed burning. Given the increase in PM2.5 concentrations during smoke events, there is a need to understand the influence of prescribed burning smoke exposure on human health. This is important especially since adverse health impacts have been observed during wildfire events when PM2.5 concentrations were similar to those observed during prescribed burning events. Robust research is required to quantify and determine health impacts from prescribed burning smoke exposure and derive evidence based interventions for managing the risk. Given the increase in PM2.5 concentrations during PB smoke events and its impact on the local air quality, the need to understand the influence of PB smoke exposure on human health is important. This knowledge will be important to inform policy and practice of the integrated, consistent, and adaptive approach to the appropriate planning and implementation of public health strategies during PB events. This will also have important implications for land management and public health organizations in developing evidence based objectives to minimize the risk of PB smoke exposure.
Managing Extreme Heat and Smoke: A Focus Group Study of Vulnerable People in Darwin, Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 25-10-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU142113805
Abstract: Extreme heat and poor air quality arising from landscape fires are an increasing global concern driven by anthropogenic climate change. Previous studies have shown these environmental conditions are associated with negative health outcomes for vulnerable people. Managing and adapting to these conditions in a warming climate can present substantial difficulties, especially in climates already challenging for human habitation. This study was set in the tropical city of Darwin, Australia. We recruited in iduals from population groups vulnerable to outdoor hazards: outdoor workers, teachers and carers, and sportspeople, to participate in focus group discussions. We aimed to gain an understanding of the impacts of extreme heat and poor air quality and how in iduals perceived and managed these environmental conditions. We identified a number of key themes relating to impacts on health, work and activity, and adaptive behaviors, while identifying gaps in policy and infrastructure that could improve the lives and protect the health of vulnerable people living, working, and playing in this region. In addition, these outcomes potentially provide direction for other regions with similar environmental challenges. Extreme heat and poor air quality place an additional burden on the lives of people in high-risk settings, such as outdoor workers, teachers and carers, and sportspeople.
Association between fire smoke fine particulate matter and asthma-related outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVRES.2019.108777
Abstract: Asthma-related outcomes are regularly used by studies to investigate the association between human exposure to landscape fire smoke and health. Robust summary effect estimates are required to inform health protection policy for fire smoke exposure. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the association between short-term exposure to landscape fire smoke (LFS) fine particulate matter (PM We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and Scopus) and reference lists of recent fire smoke and health reviews were searched. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of case-crossover studies, and a previously validated quality assessment framework was used for observational studies lacking control groups. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's Test. The trim and fill method was used when there was evidence of publication bias. Sensitivity and influence analyses were conducted on all endpoints to test the robustness of estimates. Summary estimates were obtained for hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) visits. A descriptive analysis was conducted for physician visits, medication use, and salbutamol dispensations. From an initial 181 articles (after duplicate removal), 20 studies were included for quantitative assessment and descriptive synthesis. LFS PM Females and all adults aged over 65 years appear to be the population groups most sensitive to asthma-related outcomes when exposed to LFS PM
Ambient particulate matter, landscape fire smoke, and emergency ambulance dispatches in Sydney, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2016.11.018
Abstract: Emergency ambulance dispatches (EAD) are a novel outcome for evaluating the public health impacts of air pollution. We assessed the relationships between ambient particulate matter (PM) from all sources, PM from landscape fire smoke (LFS), and EADs likely to be associated with cardiorespiratory problems in the Sydney greater metropolitan region for an 11-year period from 2004 to 2015. EAD codes are assigned at the time of the call to emergency services using standard computer assisted algorithms. We assessed EADs coded as: breathing problems, chest pain, stroke or cerebrovascular accident (stroke), cardiac or respiratory arrest and death (arrest), and heart or defibrillator problems (other heart problems). Using a daily times series study design with a generalized linear Poisson regression model we quantified the association between EAD and daily PM Increases of 10μg·m Emergency dispatches for breathing problems are associated with PM
Exposure to air pollution during the first 1000 days of life and subsequent health service and medication usage in children
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2019.113340
Abstract: Evidence of health effects following early life exposure to short-to-medium duration of high pollution levels is extremely limited. We aimed to evaluate the associations between: 1. intrauterine exposure to fine particulate matter (PM All participants were recruited from the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, Australia. Participants' 24-h average and hourly peak mine fire-specific PM We included 286 of 311 children whose parents consented to be linked, comprising 77 with no exposure, 88 with intrauterine exposure and 121 with exposure in infancy. 10- and 100- μg m Exposure to coal mine fire emissions during infancy was associated with increased dispensing of antibiotics. This could reflect increased childhood infections or increased prescriptions of antibiotics in the year following the fire.
Characterising non-linear associations between airborne pollen counts and respiratory symptoms from the AirRater smartphone app in Tasmania, Australia: A case time series approach
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Air pollution from bushfires and their association with hospital admissions in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, Australia 1994–2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2013
Abstract: We examined the association between validated bushfire smoke pollution events and hospital admissions in three eastern Australian cities from 1994 to 2007. Smoke events were defined as days on which bushfire smoke caused the 24-hour citywide average concentration of airborne particles to exceed the 99(th) percentile of the daily distribution for the study period. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design to assess the association between smoke events and hospital admissions. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions on event days compared with non-event days. Models were adjusted for daily meteorology, influenza epidemics and holidays. Smoke events occurred on 58 days in Sydney (population: 3,862,000), 33 days in Wollongong (population: 406,000) and 50 days in Newcastle (population: 278,000). In Sydney, events were associated with a 6% (OR=1.06, 95%CI=1.02-1.09) same day increase in respiratory hospital admissions. Same day chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions increased 13% (OR=1.13, 95%CI=1.05-1.22) and asthma admissions by 12% (OR=1.12, 95%CI=1.05-1.19). Events were also associated with increased admissions for respiratory conditions in Newcastle and Wollongong. Smoke events were associated with increased hospital admissions for respiratory but not cardiovascular conditions. Large populations are needed to assess the impacts of brief exposures. Implications : Public health impacts from bushfire pollution events are likely to increase in association with a warming climate and more frequent severe fire weather.
Bushfire Smoke: An Exemplar of Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-09-2013
Evaluating the use of penicillin to control outbreaks of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-1999
DOI: 10.1097/00006454-199904000-00003
Abstract: Outbreaks of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN), occur every few years in remote Australian Aboriginal communities. Intervention with benzathine penicillin G (BPG) to all children is effective in reducing streptococcal carriage in a community, but its effectiveness in arresting outbreaks of APSGN has not been established. To study nine recent community outbreaks of APSGN in Australia's Northern Territory and compare them with outbreaks reported in the literature to assess the impact of intervention with BPG. Because randomized controlled trials have not been conducted for this purpose, we assessed data from published observational studies and relevant experiences in the Northern Territory (NT). Eight of the nine outbreaks in the NT were studied prospectively. An outbreak was defined as two or more clinical cases of APSGN occurring within 1 week in a single community. Three intervention methods were used: intramuscular BPG to all children ages 3 to 15 years BPG only to children with skin lesions and BPG only to child contacts of clinical cases. The attack rates, number of clinical cases before and after the interventions were documented and the coverage of children with penicillin were estimated. A review of the literature found very little evidence either for or against the effectiveness of intervention with BPG. In our study four communities used the first method of intervention. The community with the lowest uptake of penicillin continued to have cases in untreated children for 9 further weeks, two communities had no new cases from 3 weeks after the intervention and the fourth had a single further case after 4 weeks. The one community that used the second method had a high initial attack rate but no further cases from 1 week after the intervention. Three communities used the third method and in one community no intervention was attempted. Our observational study supports the use of BPG in the community to prevent new cases of APSGN. It suggests that targeted treatment of children with skin sores and household contacts of cases, rather than attempted treatment of all children in the community, could be an effective method of intervention.
Healthy country, healthy people: Policy implications of links between indigenous human health and environmental condition in tropical Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2009
‘Pollen potency’: the relationship between atmospheric pollen counts and allergen exposure
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-09-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S10453-021-09726-3
Abstract: Pollen allergies are responsible for a considerable global public health burden, and understanding exposure is critical to addressing the health impacts. Atmospheric pollen counts are routinely used as a predictor of risk however, immune responses are triggered by specific proteins known as allergens, which occur both within and on the surface of the pollen grain. The ratio between atmospheric pollen counts and allergen concentrations (‘pollen potency’) has been shown to be inconsistent, with potentially important implications for pollen monitoring practice. Despite this, there has been no previous synthesis of the literature and our understanding of the factors that influence pollen potency remains poor. We conducted a scoping review with the aim of deriving a current understanding of: (a) the factors that influence pollen potency (b) its variation through time, between taxa and by location and (c) the implications for pollen monitoring practice. Our synthesis found that pollen potency is highly variable within and between seasons, and between locations however, much of this variability remains unexplained and has not been deeply investigated. We found no predictable pollen potency patterns relating to taxon, geography or time, and inconclusive evidence regarding possible driving factors. With respect to human health, the studies in our synthesis generally reported larger associations between atmospheric allergen loads and allergy symptoms than whole pollen counts. This suggests that pollen potency influences public health risk however, the evidence base remains limited. Further research is needed to better understand both pollen potency variability and its implications for health.
Bushfire smoke: urgent need for a national health protection strategy
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 23-02-2020
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50511
Seasonal asthma in Melbourne, Australia, and some observations on the occurrence of thunderstorm asthma and its predictability
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-04-2018
Global population exposure to landscape fire air pollution from 2000 to 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-09-2023
Can Maternal Exposure to Air Pollution Affect Post-Natal Liver Development?
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-01-2023
Abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that inhalation of particulate matter (PM) can have direct adverse effects on liver function. Early life is a time of particular vulnerability to the effects of air pollution. On that basis, we tested whether in utero exposure to residential PM has an impact on the developing liver. Pregnant mice (C57BL/6J) were intranasally administered 100 µg of PM s led from residential roof spaces (~5 mg/kg) on gestational days 13.5, 15.5, and 17.5. The pups were euthanized at two weeks of age, and liver tissue was collected to analyse hepatic metabolism (glycogen storage and lipid level), cellular responses (oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis), and genotoxicity using a range of biochemical assays, histological staining, ELISA, and qPCR. We did not observe pronounced effects of environmentally s led PM on the developing liver when examining hepatic metabolism and cellular response. However, we did find evidence of liver genomic DNA damage in response to in utero exposure to PM. This effect varied depending on the PM s le. These data suggest that in utero exposure to real-world PM during mid-late pregnancy has limited impacts on post-natal liver development.
Evaluation of interventions to reduce air pollution from biomass smoke on mortality in Launceston, Australia: retrospective analysis of daily mortality, 1994-2007
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-01-2013
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.E8446
The human dimension of fire regimes on Earth
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-09-2011
The 2020 special report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: lessons learnt from Australia’s 'Black Summer'
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 02-12-2020
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50869
Policy Implications for Protecting Health from the Hazards of Fire Smoke. A Panel Discussion Report from the Workshop Landscape Fire Smoke: Protecting Health in an Era of Escalating Fire Risk
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-05-2021
Abstract: Globally, and nationally in Australia, bushfires are expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. To date, protection of human health from fire smoke has largely relied on in idual-level actions. Recent bushfires experienced during the Australian summer of 2019–2020 occurred over a prolonged period and encompassed far larger geographical areas than previously experienced, resulting in extreme levels of smoke for extended periods of time. This particular bushfire season resulted in highly challenging conditions, where many people were unable to protect themselves from smoke exposures. The Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research (CAR), an Australian research centre, hosted a two-day symposium, Landscape Fire Smoke: Protecting health in an era of escalating fire risk, on 8 and 9 October 2020. One component of the symposium was a dedicated panel discussion where invited experts were asked to examine alternative policy settings for protecting health from fire smoke hazards with specific reference to interventions to minimise exposure, protection of outdoor workers, and current systems for communicating health risk. This paper documents the proceedings of the expert panel and participant discussion held during the workshop.
Public Health Messaging During Extreme Smoke Events: Are We Hitting the Mark?
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 02-09-2020
Associations between respiratory and vascular function in early childhood
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14117
Abstract: The link between respiratory and vascular health is well documented in adult populations. Impaired lung function is consistently associated with thicker arteries and higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited data on this relationship in young children and the studies that exist have focussed on populations at high risk of cardiorespiratory morbidity. We determined if an association exists between respiratory and cardiovascular function in young children and, if so, whether it is confounded by known cardiorespiratory risk factors. Respiratory and vascular data from a prospective cohort study established to evaluate the health implications 3 years after coal mine fire smoke exposure in children aged 3–5 years were used. Respiratory function was measured using the forced oscillation technique and included resistance at 5 Hz ( R 5 ), reactance at 5 Hz ( X 5 ) and area under the reactance curve (AX). Vascular health was measured by carotid intima‐media thickness (ultrasound) and pulse wave velocity (arterial tonometry). Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between the respiratory Z ‐scores and cardiovascular measures. Subsequent analyses were adjusted for potential confounding by maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal education and exposure to fine particulate matter .5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 ). Peripheral lung function ( X 5 and AX), but not respiratory system resistance ( R 5 ), was associated with vascular function. Adjustment for maternal smoking, maternal education and early life exposure to PM 2.5 had minimal effect on these associations. These observations suggest that peripheral lung stiffness is associated with vascular stiffness and that this relationship is established early in life.
Maternal exposure to particulate matter alters early post-natal lung function and immune cell development
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVRES.2018.03.029
Abstract: In utero exposure to particulate matter (PM) from a range of sources is associated with adverse post-natal health however, the effect of maternal exposure to community-s led PM on early post-natal lung and immune development is poorly understood. Using a mouse model, we aimed to determine whether in utero exposure to PM alters early post-natal lung function and immune cell populations. We used PM collected from ceiling voids in suburban houses as a proxy for community PM exposure. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were intranasally exposed to ceiling derived PM, or saline alone, at gestational day (E) 13.5, 15.5, and 17.5. When mice were two weeks old, we assessed lung function by the forced oscillation technique, and enumerated T and B cell populations in the spleen and thymus by flow cytometry. Maternal exposure to PM impaired somatic growth of male offspring resulting in reduced lung volume and deficits in lung function. There was no effect on thymic T cell populations in dams and their male offspring but PM decreased the CD4 +CD25 + T cell population in the female offspring. In contrast, maternal exposure to PM increased splenic CD3 +CD4 + and CD3 +CD8 + T cells in dams, and there was some evidence to suggest inhibition of splenic T cell maturation in male but not female offspring. Our findings suggested that maternal exposure to ceiling void PM has the capacity to impair early somatic growth and alter early life immune development in a sex specific manner.
Can Public Spaces Effectively Be Used as Cleaner Indoor Air Shelters during Extreme Smoke Events?
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-04-2021
Abstract: During extreme air pollution events, such as bushfires, public health agencies often recommend that vulnerable in iduals visit a nearby public building with central air conditioning to reduce their exposure to smoke. However, there is limited evidence that these “cleaner indoor air shelters” reduce exposure or health risks. We quantified the impact of a “cleaner indoor air shelter” in a public library in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia when concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were elevated during a local peat fire and nearby bushfires. Specifically, we evaluated the air quality improvements with central air conditioning only and with the use of portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaners. We measured PM2.5 from August 2019 until February 2020 by deploying pairs of low-cost PM2.5 sensors (i) inside the main library, (ii) in a smaller media room inside the library, (iii) outside the library, and (iv) co-located with regulatory monitors located in the town. We operated two HEPA cleaners in the media room from August until October 2019. We quantified the infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, defined as the fraction of the outdoor PM2.5 concentration that penetrates indoors and remains suspended, as well as the additional effect of HEPA cleaners on PM2.5 concentrations. The infiltration efficiency of outdoor PM2.5 into the air-conditioned main library was 30%, meaning that compared to the PM2.5 concentration outdoors, the concentrations of outdoor-generated PM2.5 indoors were reduced by 70%. In the media room, when the HEPA cleaners were operating, PM2.5 concentrations were reduced further with a PM2.5 infiltration efficiency of 17%. A carefully selected air-conditioned public building could be used as a cleaner indoor air shelter during episodes of elevated smoke emissions. Further improvements in indoor air quality within the building can be achieved by operating appropriately sized HEPA cleaners.
Waste-to-Energy processes: what is the impact on air pollutants and health?
Publisher: Queensland University of Technology
Date: 19-04-2019
Adverse effects of prenatal exposure to residential dust on post-natal brain development
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Ambient Particulate Matter and Paramedic Assessments of Acute Diabetic, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Conditions
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2019
AirRater Tasmania: Using Smartphone Technology to Understand Local Environmental Drivers of Symptoms in People with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
The health impacts and economic value of wildland fire episodes in the U.S.: 2008–2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
Pollen Loads and Allergic Rhinitis in Darwin, Australia: A Potential Health Outcome of the Grass-Fire Cycle
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-2009
DOI: 10.1007/S10393-009-0225-1
Abstract: Although the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis has been increasing in tropical regions, little is known about the allergenicity of pollens from tropical plant families or the importance of ongoing environmental changes. We investigated associations between daily average pollen counts of several tropical plant families and sales of medications for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in Darwin, Australia-a tropical setting in which grass abundance has increased due to increased fire frequencies and the introduction of African pasture grasses. Daily pollen counts with detailed identification of plant species were undertaken in conjunction with a weekly survey of flowering plant species from April 2004 to November 2005. Five pharmacies provided daily sales data of selected medications commonly used to treat allergic rhinitis. We used generalized linear modeling to examine outcomes. All analyses accounted for the potential confounding effects of time trends, holidays, respiratory viral illnesses, meteorological conditions, and air pollution. The peak total pollen count was 94 grains/m(3). Despite the low levels of Poaceae (grass) pollen (maximum daily count, 24 grains/m(3)), there was a clear association with daily sales of anti-allergic medications greatest at a lag of 1 day. Sales increased by 5% with an interquartile range rise (3 grain/m(3)) in Poaceae pollen (5.07%, 95%CI 1.04%, 9.25%). No associations were observed with pollen from other plant families. Although further testing is required, we suggest that an overlooked aspect of the "grass-fire cycle" that is degrading many tropical landscapes, could be an increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis.
SKIN SORES IN ABORIGINAL CHILDREN
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-1995
Environmental hazards and behavior change: User perspectives on the usability and effectiveness of the airrater smartphone app
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 30-03-2021
Abstract: AirRater is a free smartphone app developed in 2015, supporting in iduals to protect their health from environmental hazards. It does this by providing (i) location-specific and near real-time air quality, pollen and temperature information and (ii) personal symptom tracking functionality. This research sought to evaluate user perceptions of AirRater’s usability and effectiveness. We collected demographic data and completed semi-structured interviews with 42 AirRater users, identified emergent themes, and used two frameworks designed to understand and support behavior change—the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) and the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM)—to interpret results. Of the 42 participants, almost half indicated that experiencing symptoms acted as a prompt for app use. Information provided by the app supported a majority of the 42 participants to make decisions and implement behaviors to protect their health irrespective of their location or context. The majority of participants also indicated that they shared information provided by the app with family, friends and/or colleagues. The evaluation also identified opportunities to improve the app. Several study limitations were identified, which impacts the generalizability of results beyond the populations studied. Despite these limitations, findings facilitated new insights into motivations for behavior change, and contribute to the existing literature investigating the potential for smartphone apps to support health protection from environmental hazards in a changing climate.
Feasibility and Normal Ranges of Arterial Intima-Media Thickness and Stiffness in 2-Year-Old Children: A Pilot Study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-03-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00246-019-02088-1
Abstract: In adults, noninvasive assessments of vascular function have been established. However, little is known about the applicability and reference values of these techniques among children < 6 years old and none ≤ 2. We aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting noninvasive vascular assessments in 2-year-old children and the normal range of results in this age group. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and abdominal aorta IMT (aaIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial diameter change, stiffness index (β), and distensibility were assessed in 2-year-old children. IMT was assessed using an automatic contour detection. The proportion of successful measurements was 72% (42/58) with cIMT 64%, aaIMT 67%, and PWV 43%. Average far wall cIMT was 0.51 mm and 0.40 for aaIMT. Mean PWV was 4.15 m/s, with relatively wider range in stiffness index and distensibility. Common carotid arteries had a higher mean distensibility of 4.58%/10 mmHg compared with 2.98%/10 mmHg for the abdominal aorta. The number of data points automatically detected at far wall cIMT was higher than that in aaIMT (left cIMT: 244 ± 13 and right: 240 ± 23 vs. abdominal 185 ± 63, p < 0.001). Better and more consistent quality was achieved for cIMT than aaIMT measurements. PWV measurement was only feasible in cooperative children with efficient distractions. Noninvasive methods for early detection of cardiovascular risks were feasible in at least two-thirds of 2-year-old children. Given the greater feasibility and image quality, cIMT is a preferable option for assessing vascular health in young children.
Methods of Assessing Health Care Costs in a Changing Climate: A Case Study of Heatwaves and Ambulance Dispatches in Tasmania, Australia
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 10-2023
DOI: 10.1029/2023GH000914
Asthma and landscape fire smoke: A Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statement
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-09-2023
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.14593
Maternal exposure to short-to medium-term outdoor air pollution and obstetric and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2018.10.086
Abstract: Little is known about the impacts of maternal exposure to acute episodes of outdoor air pollution, such as that resulting from wildfires, on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. This systematic review aims to synthesise the existing literature exploring the relationship between maternal exposure to short-to medium-term changes in outdoor air quality and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles using PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, ProQuest, GreenFILE and Scopus was conducted in January 2018 using selected search terms. Quality of included studies were assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Eleven studies were included eight assessed the impact of maternal exposure to air pollution exacerbation events, such as wildfires, oil well fires and volcanic eruptions, and three assessed the impact of improvement events, such as the 2018 Beijing Olympics and closure of industrial activities, on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Studies were highly heterogenous in methodology. Six studies found a significant association between acute changes in air quality and markers of fetal growth restriction, while two did not. Three studies found an adverse association between acute changes in air quality and markers of gestational maturity, and one did not. Overall, there is some evidence that maternal exposure to acute changes in air quality of short-to medium-term duration increases the risk of fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. The relationship for other adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes is less clear.
Evaluating the Risk of Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma: Lessons from Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-03-2019
Abstract: Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETA) is an emerging public health threat in Australia, highlighted by the 2016 event in Melbourne, Victoria, that overwhelmed health services and caused loss of life. However, there is limited understanding of the regional variations in risk. We evaluated the public health risk of ETA in the nearby state of Tasmania by quantifying the frequency of potential ETA episodes and applying a standardized natural disaster risk assessment framework. Using a case–control approach, we analyzed emergency presentations in Tasmania’s public hospitals from 2002 to 2017. Cases were defined as days when asthma presentations exceeded four standard deviations from the mean, and controls as days when asthma presentations were less than one standard deviation from the mean. Four controls were randomly selected for each case. Independently, a meteorologist identified the dates of potential high-risk thunderstorm events. No case days coincided with thunderstorms during the study period. ETA was assessed as a very low risk to the Tasmanian population, with these findings informing risk prioritization and resource allocation. This approach may be scaled and applied in other settings to determine local ETA risk. Furthermore, the identification of hazards using this method allows for critical analysis of existing public health systems.
Ecohealth and Aboriginal Testimony of the Nexus Between Human Health and Place
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-11-2007
Health burden associated with fire smoke in Sydney, 2001–2013
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 04-2018
DOI: 10.5694/MJA18.00032
The pro-inflammatory effects of particulate matter on epithelial cells are associated with elemental composition
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2018.03.052
Abstract: Adverse health effects of particulate matter (PM) vary with chemical composition however, evidence regarding which elements are the most detrimental is limited. The roof space area provides an open and stable environment for outdoor PM to settle and deposit. Therefore, this study used roof space PM s les as a proxy of residential cumulative exposure to outdoor air pollution to investigate their pro-inflammatory effects on human lung cells and the contribution of the endotoxin and chemical content. Roof space PM s les of 36 different homes were collected and analysed using standardised techniques. We evaluated cytotoxicity and cytokine production of BEAS-2B cells after PM exposure using MTS and ELISA, respectively. Principle component analysis (PCA) and linear regression analyses were employed to assess the associations between cytokine production and the PM components. PM caused significant time- and dose-dependent increases in cellular cytokine production (p < 0.05). PCA identified four factors that explained 68.33% of the variance in the chemical composition. An increase in Factor 1 (+Fe, +Al, +Mn) score and a decrease in Factor 2 (-Ca, +Pb, +PAH) score were associated with increased interleukin (IL)-6 (Factor 1 p = 0.010 Factor 2 p = 0.006) and IL-8 (Factor 1 p = 0.003 Factor 2 p = 0.020) production, however, only the association with Factor 1 was evident after correcting for endotoxin and particle size. Our study provides novel insight into the positive associations between pro-inflammatory effects of roof space PM s les with Fe, Al and Mn levels.
Using smartphone technology to reduce health impacts from atmospheric environmental hazards
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 29-03-2018
The 2021 report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-10-2021
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.51302
Early life exposure to coal mine fire smoke emissions and altered lung function in young children.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-06-2019
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.13617
Abstract: Long-term respiratory risks following exposure to relatively short periods of poor air quality early in life are unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to a 6-week episode of air pollution from a coal mine fire in children aged <2 years, and their lung function 3 years after the fire. We conducted a prospective cohort study. In idual exposure to 24-h average and peak concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM Of the 203 infants originally recruited, 84 aged 4.3 ± 0.5 years completed FOT testing. Median (interquartile range, IQR) for average and peak PM Infant exposure to coal mine fire emissions could be associated with long-term impairment of lung reactance.
Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-07-2016
Ambient biomass smoke and cardio-respiratory hospital admissions in Darwin, Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-09-2007
Heatwave and health impact research: a global review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.HEALTHPLACE.2018.08.017
Abstract: Observed increases in the frequency and intensity of heatwave events, together with the projected acceleration of these events worldwide, has led to a rapid expansion in research on the health impacts of extreme heat. To examine how research on heatwaves and their health-related impact is distributed globally. A systematic review was undertaken. Four online databases were searched for articles examining links between specific historical heatwave events and their impact on mortality or morbidity. The locations of these events were mapped at a global scale, and compared to other known characteristics that influence heat-related illness and death. When examining the location of heatwave and health impact research worldwide, studies were concentrated on mid-latitude, high-income countries of low- to medium-population density. Regions projected to experience the most extreme heatwaves in the future were not represented. Furthermore, the majority of studies examined mortality as a key indicator of population-wide impact, rather than the more sensitive indicator of morbidity. While global heatwave and health impact research is prolific in some regions, the global population most at risk of death and illness from extreme heat is under-represented. Heatwave and health impact research is needed in regions where this impact is expected to be most severe.
Long-term exposure to low concentrations of air pollutants and hospitalisation for respiratory diseases: A prospective cohort study in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2018.08.050
Abstract: Short- and long-term spatiotemporal variation in exposure to air pollution is associated with respiratory morbidity in areas with moderate-to-high level of air pollution, but very few studies have examined whether these associations also exist in areas with low level exposure. We assessed the association between spatial variation in long-term exposure to PM We recorded data on hospitalisations for 100,084 participants, who were aged >45 years at entry in 2006-2009 until June 2014. Annual NO NO We found weak positive associations of exposure to air pollution with hospitalisation for asthma while there was no evidence of an association for all respiratory diseases.
Differences in grass pollen allergen exposure across Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
Fine particulate matter exposure and medication dispensing during and after a coal mine fire: A time series analysis from the Hazelwood Health Study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2018.12.085
Abstract: Limited research has examined the impacts of coal mine fire smoke on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the association between prolonged smoke PM
Health effects of smoke from planned burns: a study protocol
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-02-2016
Did Fine Particulate Matter from the Summer 2016 Landscape Fires in Tasmania Increase Emergency Ambulance Dispatches? A Case Crossover Analysis
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-07-2018
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE1020026
Abstract: During summer in early 2016, over 70 landscape fires in Tasmania (Australia) caused several severe episodes of fire smoke across the island state. To assess the health impact of the fire smoke, a case crossover analysis was performed, which measured the association between increased concentrations of PM2.5 and emergency ambulance dispatches (EAD) from 1 January to 31 March 2016. Control days were matched by latitude and longitude, day of the week and calendar month. Exposure data were obtained from air quality monitoring stations at lag times of 1–48 h and for the 24-h mean on the same day and 1-day lag. Positive associations were observed between an increase of 10 µg/m3 in PM2.5 and EAD for stroke on the same day (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.19) and at 1-day lag (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18). Furthermore, there were non-significant increases in breathing problems (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.08) and diabetic problems (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.99–1.22) at 1-day lag. The EAD for all causes were not increased. These findings will be used for ambulance service planning and public health risk communication in future landscape fire events.
Can Air Quality Management Drive Sustainable Fuels Management at the Temperate Wildland–Urban Interface?
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-08-2018
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE1020027
Abstract: Sustainable fire management has eluded all industrial societies. Given the growing number and magnitude of wildfire events, prescribed fire is being increasingly promoted as the key to reducing wildfire risk. However, smoke from prescribed fires can adversely affect public health. We propose that the application of air quality standards can lead to the development and adoption of sustainable fire management approaches that lower the risk of economically and ecologically damaging wildfires while improving air quality and reducing climate-forcing emissions. For ex le, green fire breaks at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) can resist the spread of wildfires into urban areas. These could be created through mechanical thinning of trees, and then maintained by targeted prescribed fire to create bio erse and aesthetically pleasing landscapes. The harvested woody debris could be used for pellets and other forms of bioenergy in residential space heating and electricity generation. Collectively, such an approach would reduce the negative health impacts of smoke pollution from wildfires, prescribed fires, and combustion of wood for domestic heating. We illustrate such possibilities by comparing current and potential fire management approaches in the temperate and environmentally similar landscapes of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and the island state of Tasmania in Australia.
The Value of Local Heatwave Impact Assessment: A Case-Crossover Analysis of Hospital Emergency Department Presentations in Tasmania, Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-10-2019
Abstract: Heatwaves have been identified as a threat to human health, with this impact projected to rise in a warming climate. Gaps in local knowledge can potentially undermine appropriate policy and preparedness actions. Using a case-crossover methodology, we examined the impact of heatwave events on hospital emergency department (ED) presentations in the two most populous regions of Tasmania, Australia, from 2008–2016. Using conditional logistic regression, we analyzed the relationship between ED presentations and severe/extreme heatwaves for the whole population, specific demographics including age, gender and socio-economic advantage, and diagnostic conditions that are known to be impacted in high temperatures. ED presentations increased by 5% (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09) across the whole population, by 13% (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24) for children 15 years and under, and by 19% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.36) for children 5 years and under. A less precise association in the same direction was found for those over 65 years. For diagnostic subgroups, non-significant increases in ED presentations were observed for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. These findings may assist ED surge capacity planning and public health preparedness and response activities for heatwave events in Tasmania, highlighting the importance of using local research to inform local practice.
Climate Change, Wildfires, Heatwaves and Health Impacts in Australia
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 16-11-2019
Ambulance dispatches and heatwaves in Tasmania, Australia: A case-crossover analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Pyrogeography, historical ecology, and the human dimensions of fire regimes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-02-2014
DOI: 10.1111/JBI.12285
Extreme air pollution events from bushfires and dust storms and their association with mortality in Sydney, Australia 1994-2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVRES.2011.05.007
Abstract: Extreme air pollution events due to bushfire smoke and dust storms are expected to increase as a consequence of climate change, yet little has been published about their population health impacts. We examined the association between air pollution events and mortality in Sydney from 1997 to 2004. Events were defined as days for which the 24h city-wide concentration of PM(10) exceeded the 99th percentile. All events were researched and categorised as being caused by either smoke or dust. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression modelling adjusted for influenza epidemics, same day and lagged temperature and humidity. Reported odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals are for mortality on event days compared with non-event days. The contribution of elevated average temperatures to mortality during smoke events was explored. There were 52 event days, 48 attributable to bushfire smoke, six to dust and two affected by both. Smoke events were associated with a 5% increase in non-accidental mortality at a lag of 1 day OR (95% confidence interval (CI)) 1.05 (95%CI: 1.00-1.10). When same day temperature was removed from the model, additional same day associations were observed with non-accidental mortality OR 1.05 (95%CI: 1.00-1.09), and with cardiovascular mortality OR (95%CI) 1.10 (95%CI: 1.00-1.20). Dust events were associated with a 15% increase in non-accidental mortality at a lag of 3 days, OR (95%CI) 1.16 (95%CI: 1.03-1.30). The magnitude and temporal patterns of association with mortality were different for smoke and dust events. Public health advisories during bushfire smoke pollution episodes should include advice about hot weather in addition to air pollution.
Can smartphone data identify the local environmental drivers of respiratory disease?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Avoidable Mortality Attributable to Anthropogenic Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-12-2020
Abstract: Ambient fine particulate matter .5 µm (PM2.5) air pollution increases premature mortality globally. Some PM2.5 is natural, but anthropogenic PM2.5 is comparatively avoidable. We determined the impact of long-term exposures to the anthropogenic PM component on mortality in Australia. PM2.5-attributable deaths were calculated for all Australian Statistical Area 2 (SA2 n = 2310) regions. All-cause death rates from Australian mortality and population databases were combined with annual anthropogenic PM2.5 exposures for the years 2006–2016. Relative risk estimates were derived from the literature. Population-weighted average PM2.5 concentrations were estimated in each SA2 using a satellite and land use regression model for Australia. PM2.5-attributable mortality was calculated using a health-impact assessment methodology with life tables and all-cause death rates. The changes in life expectancy (LE) from birth, years of life lost (YLL), and economic cost of lost life years were calculated using the 2019 value of a statistical life. Nationally, long-term population-weighted average total and anthropogenic PM2.5 concentrations were 6.5 µg/m3 (min 1.2–max 14.2) and 3.2 µg/m3 (min 0–max 9.5), respectively. Annually, anthropogenic PM2.5-pollution is associated with 2616 (95% confidence intervals 1712, 3455) deaths, corresponding to a 0.2-year (95% CI 0.14, 0.28) reduction in LE for children aged 0–4 years, 38,962 (95%CI 25,391, 51,669) YLL and an average annual economic burden of $6.2 billion (95%CI $4.0 billion, $8.1 billion). We conclude that the anthropogenic PM2.5-related costs of mortality in Australia are higher than community standards should allow, and reductions in emissions are recommended to achieve avoidable mortality.
Acceptability and perceived feasibility of strategies to increase public transport use for physical activity gain – A mixed methods study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-09-2020
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.292
Abstract: Public transport (PT) users typically accumulate more physical activity (PA) than motor vehicle users. This mixed methods study aimed to determine acceptability and perceived effectiveness of strategies to increase bus use for PA gain in a regional Australian setting. In a 2017 online survey, Tasmanian adults (n = 1091) rated the likelihood of increasing their bus use according to ten hypothetical strategies (fare-, incentives-, information- or infrastructure-based). Three focus groups and five interviews (n = 31) included infrequent bus users from the survey to determine reasons for strategy preferences and potential impact on PA. The top three strategies in the survey, with supporting rationale from qualitative data, were: provision of real-time bus information ("…because I can better plan…") bus-only lanes ("…it just speeds the whole thing up…") and employee incentives/rewards for ex le bus fare credits ("…it really comes down to money…"). Full-time students favoured cost-saving strategies most and residents in outer suburbs favoured infrastructure-based strategies most. Qualitative data indicated that potential for enhanced certainty, efficiency or cost-savings drove strategy preferences and some strategies may lead to PA gain (eg through the location of Park and Ride facilities). Real-time information, bus-only lanes and employee incentives/rewards appear most promising for increasing bus use in this population, but tailoring strategies may be required. Discrete PT enhancement strategies may result in PA gain. SO WHAT?: Increasing PA through transport behaviour has been underexplored. The potential for PA gain through greater PT use and discrete PT use enhancement strategies is an important public health consideration.
A rapid assessment of the impact of hazard reduction burning around Sydney, May 2016
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.5694/MJA16.00895
Community-Wide Distribution of a Catalytic Device to Reduce Winter Ambient Fine Particulate Matter from Residential Wood Combustion: A Field Study
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-11-2016
The health impacts of waste-to-energy emissions: a systematic review of the literature
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 12-2020
Abstract: Waste-to-energy (WtE) processes, or the combustion of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for energy generation, has the potential to reduce landfill volume while providing a renewable energy source. We aimed to systematically review and summarise current evidence on the potential health effects (benefits and risks) of exposure to WtE/RDF-related combustion emissions. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar using terms related to health and WtE/RDF combustion emissions, following PRISMA guidelines. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts and then full-texts of original, peer-reviewed research articles published until 20th March 2020, plus their relevant references. Overall quality of included epidemiological studies were rated using an amended Navigation framework. We found 19 articles from 269 search results that met our inclusion criteria, including two epidemiological studies, five environmental monitoring studies, seven health impact or risk assessments (HIA/HRA), and five life-cycle assessments. We found a dearth of health studies related to the impacts of exposure to WtE emissions. The limited evidence suggests that well-designed and operated WtE facilities using sorted feedstock (RDF) are critical to reduce potential adverse health (cancer and non-cancer) impacts, due to lower hazardous combustion-related emissions, compared to landfill or unsorted incineration. Poorly fed WtE facilities may emit concentrated toxins with serious potential health risks, such as dioxins/furans and heavy metals these toxins may remain problematic in bottom ash as a combustion by-product. Most modelling studies estimate that electricity (per unit) generated from WtE generally emits less health-relevant air pollutants (also less greenhouse gases) than from combustion of fossil fuels (e.g. coal). Some modelled estimates vary due to model sensitivity for type of waste processed, model inputs used, and facility operational conditions. We conclude that rigorous assessment (e.g. HRA including sensitivity analyses) of WtE facility/technological characteristics and refuse type used is necessary when planning roposing facilities to protect human health as the technology is adopted worldwide.
Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 08-08-2020
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50719
A cross-sectional survey of environmental health in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-06-2016
Sub-Clinical Effects of Outdoor Smoke in Affected Communities
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-01-2021
Abstract: 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.
Early life exposure to coal mine fire and tobacco smoke affect subclinical vascular function
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 20-12-2019
DOI: 10.1136/ARCHDISCHILD-2019-317528
Abstract: To evaluate whether vascular health in young children was associated with exposure to a 6-week episode of coal mine fire smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in a retrospective cohort study. Three years after a coal mine fire in Victoria, Australia, we investigated the vascular health of children either in utero (n=75) or aged years (postnatal exposure, n=96) at the time of the fire. The outcomes were the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). The mean and peak daily particulate matter .5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5 ) exposures were estimated based on their daily locations throughout the fire period. Multivariable linear regression models were used to test for associations between the fire-related PM 2.5 and outcomes adjusted for relevant covariates including ETS. In the postnatal-exposure group, each 10 µg/m³ increase in mean PM 2.5 level was independently positively associated with PWV (β=0.116, p=0.028). When these two groups were combined, there was an association between mean PM 2.5 and increased PWV in those children who had ETS exposure (β=0.148, p=0.033) or whose mothers smoked (β=0.151, p=0.011), but not in those not exposed to ETS or maternal smoking. Three years after a coal mine fire, infants aged up to 2 years at the time of exposure have increases in vascular stiffness. Although no adverse effects were observed in the in uterus exposure group, further follow-up study is needed to elucidate the long-term effects of coal mine fire smoke exposure.
Air quality policy and fire management responses addressing smoke from wildland fires in the United States and Australia
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/WF16154
Abstract: Wildland fire emissions degrade air quality and visibility, having adverse economic, health and visibility impacts at large spatial scales globally. Air quality regulations can constrain the goals of landscape resilience and management of fire-dependent ecosystems. Here, we review the air quality regulatory framework in the United States, comparing this framework with that of Australia. In the United States, wildland fire management and air quality policies have evolved independently, yet interact to meet erse public needs. Australian policy development is more recent and decentralised. We find that (1) for maxiumum effectiveness, smoke and fire regulatory frameworks must keep pace with scientific evidence, environmental and social change, and be accompanied by clear regulatory guidance (2) episodic, non-stationary qualities of fire, and its role in ecosystems, pose specific challenges to regulators and policy-makers and (3) the complexity of industry-focused air quality policies often leads to unintended consequences for fire management. More research is needed to create and implement more effective fire and air policies and better prepare social-ecological systems to address the challenges of climate change mitigation. These insights may be helpful for countries initially developing complementary fire and air policies, especially as the role of fire becomes more important geopolitically and globally.
Creating an Integrated Historical Record of Extreme Particulate Air Pollution Events in Australian Cities from 1994 to 2007
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2011
DOI: 10.3155/1047-3289.61.4.390
Abstract: Epidemiological studies of exposure to vegetation fire smoke are often limited by the availability of accurate exposure data. This paper describes a systematic framework for retrospectively identifying the cause of air pollution events to facilitate a long, multicenter analysis of the public health effects of vegetation fire smoke pollution in Australia. Pollution events were statistically defined as any day at or above the 95th percentile of the 24-hr average concentration of particulate matter (PM). These were identified for six cities from three distinct ecoclimatic regions of Australia. The dates of each event were then crosschecked against a range of information sources, including online newspaper archives, government and research agency records, satellite imagery, and aerosol optical thickness measures to identify the cause for the excess particulate pollution. Pollution events occurred most frequently during summer for cities in subtropical and arid regions and during winter for cities in temperate regions. A cause for high PM on 67% of days examined in the city of Sydney was found, and 94% of these could be attributed to landscape fire smoke. Results were similar for cities in other subtropical and arid locations. Identification of the cause of pollution events was much lower in colder temperate regions where fire activity is less frequent. Bushfires were the most frequent cause of extreme pollution events in cities located in subtropical and arid regions of Australia. Although identification of pollution episodes was greatly improved by the use of multiple sources of information, satellite imagery was the most useful tool for identifying bushfire smoke pollution events.
Bushfires, Human Health Economics, and Pyrogeography
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-07-2014
Respiratory hospital admissions were associated with ambient airborne pollen in Darwin, Australia, 2004–2005
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-08-2007
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2222.2007.02800.X
Abstract: Although the role of pollen and fungus in specific allergic disorders has been well established, the public health impacts of ambient concentrations of airborne pollen and fungal spores the shapes of concentration-response relationships and the relative effects of different taxa are gaps in current knowledge. To investigate associations between daily average ambient pollen and fungal spore concentrations with hospital admissions for total respiratory diseases asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory infections in Darwin, Australia, during the period from April 2004 to November 2005. We assessed these relationships in a two-stage modelling approach designed to quantify potential non-linear relationships. First, generalized additive models determined the shapes of concentration-response relationships. Second, linear associations were examined using generalized linear models. Non-linear relationships were analysed by categorizing pollen and fungal spore concentrations based on their distributions. Positive linear associations were found between total pollen concentrations and hospital admissions for total respiratory diseases and COPD. While our exploratory first-stage analysis suggested non-linear relationships for total pollen with asthma and respiratory infections, no convincing evidence for these relationships was found in the second-stage analysis. When in idual taxa were investigated, associations were the strongest in relation to Myrtaceae pollen (the dominant tree taxa in the region), while positive associations not attaining statistical significance were observed for Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Arecaceae. No associations were evident for any conditions with fungal spores. Our finding of an association between pollen count and respiratory hospital admissions that could not be explained by asthma admissions suggests that ambient airborne pollens might have a wider public health impact than previously recognized.
Using digital technology to protect health in prolonged poor air quality episodes: A case study of the airrater app during the australian 2019–20 fires
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-08-2020
DOI: 10.3390/FIRE3030040
Abstract: In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019–20, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large and prolonged exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recorded in all major population centers. We examined if AirRater, a free smartphone app that reports air quality and tracks user symptoms in near real-time, assisted those populations to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 AirRater users to assess how they used this information during the 2019–20 bushfire season, and why it was helpful to aid decision-making in reducing personal smoke exposure. We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported the app was highly useful, supporting informed decision-making regarding daily activities during the smoke-affected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Innovative and easy-to-use smartphone apps such as AirRater, that provide in idual-level and location-specific data, can enable users to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and therefore protect their health.
The environment is a first order issue for lung health
Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Date: 12-2019
The pyrohealth transition: How combustion emissions have shaped health through human history
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 05-06-2016
Abstract: Air pollution from landscape fires, domestic fires and fossil fuel combustion is recognized as the single most important global environmental risk factor for human mortality and is associated with a global burden of disease almost as large as that of tobacco smoking. The shift from a reliance on biomass to fossil fuels for powering economies, broadly described as the pyric transition, frames key patterns in human fire usage and landscape fire activity. These have produced distinct patters of human exposure to air pollution associated with the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions and post-industrial the Earth global system-wide changes increasingly known as the Anthropocene. Changes in patterns of human fertility, mortality and morbidity associated with economic development have been previously described in terms of demographic, epidemiological and nutrition transitions, yet these frameworks have not explicitly considered the direct consequences of combustion emissions for human health. To address this gap, we propose a pyrohealth transition and use data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) collaboration to compare direct mortality impacts of emissions from landscape fires, domestic fires, fossil fuel combustion and the global epidemic of tobacco smoking. Improving human health and reducing the environmental impacts on the Earth system will require a considerable reduction in biomass and fossil fuel combustion. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-08-2013
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.12252
A transdisciplinary approach to understanding the health effects of wildfire and prescribed fire smoke regimes
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 12-2016
Strongyloidiasis: A review of the evidence for Australian practitioners
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2005
DOI: 10.1111/J.1440-1584.2005.00710.X
Abstract: To summarise the available evidence concerning the prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management of strongyloidiasis in Northern Australia. We searched Medline, Clinical Evidence and the Cochrane Library using MeSH terms and text words 'strongyloides OR strongyloidiasis'. For Australian studies we included text words '(parasite* OR parasitic OR helminth*) AND Australia*'. We examined references contained in retrieved studies or identified from direct contact with researchers. Studies consistent with our objective that described their methods were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence in some tropical Aboriginal communities is high. Infection can be asymptomatic, cause a range of clinical syndromes or death. It may become chronic. Infected patients are at risk of developing severe disseminated disease particularly with immune compromise. There is little information about the relative frequency of different clinical outcomes. Available diagnostic tools are imperfect. Stool examination has a low sensitivity. Serology may have a low specificity in high prevalence populations and has not been evaluated in Aboriginal populations. Antihelmintic drugs are relatively safe and effective. Community programs based on treatment of stool-positive cases have been associated with a reduced prevalence of strongyloidiasis. We found no studies examining alternative public health interventions. There is a high prevalence in many Aboriginal communities. Strongyloides infection should be excluded prior to commencing immunosuppressive therapies in patients from endemic areas. Further studies examining the public health impact of strongyloidiasis, the role of the enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay serological test and population-based approaches to management of the disease in endemically infected Australian populations are needed.
Exceedances of national air quality standards for particulate matter in Western Australia: sources and health‐related impacts
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 12-03-2020
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50547
Wildfires, Global Climate Change, and Human Health
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Date: 26-11-2020
Seasonal patterns in biomass smoke pollution and the mid 20th‐century transition from Aboriginal to European fire management in northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-02-2007
Vegetation fires in the Anthropocene
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2020
Long-term impacts of prenatal and infant exposure to fine particulate matter on wheezing and asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2019
Place, human agency and community resilience – considerations for public health management of smoke from prescribed burning
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 13-08-2018
Socio-demographic, behavioural and health-related characteristics associated with active commuting in a regional Australian state: evidence from the 2016 Tasmanian Population Health Survey
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-10-2020
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.428
Abstract: Physical activity is lower and rates of preventable common diseases are higher in regional/rural than urban Australia. Active commuting (walking/bicycling to get from one place to another) may benefit health through increased physical activity, but most evidence of its correlates come from urban studies. This study aimed to investigate associations between active commuting, socio‐demographic characteristics, behaviours, total physical activity and health in a regional/rural Australian state. This study used data from the 2016 Tasmanian Population Health Survey, a representative cross‐sectional self‐report survey of 6,300 adults in Tasmania, Australia. Logistic regression modelling investigated associations between socio‐demographic, behavioural and health characteristics and past week active commuting frequency. In multivariable models, being younger, having tertiary qualifications, living in a socio‐economically advantaged area, being physically active, having a healthy body mass index and good/excellent self‐rated health were associated with engaging in more active commuting. Inner regional dwellers were no more likely than outer regional dwellers to actively commute after covariate adjustment. Strategies to promote active commuting in regional/rural areas might consider targeting older adults, those less educated, those living in socio‐economically disadvantaged areas, those less physically active, those with poorer health and those with higher body mass index. Research could further investigate why these groups appear to be less active for commuting purposes. Increasing physical activity and active commuting may help to reduce rates of preventable common diseases in regional/remote areas.
What are the health and socioeconomic impacts of allergic respiratory disease in Tasmania?
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1071/AH20200
Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to quantify the direct and indirect costs of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) for 2018 in Tasmania. Methods We used publicly available data, and Tasmanian-specific values where available, to estimate direct and indirect costs of both diseases. Direct costs included outcomes such as emergency department (ED) presentations, hospitalisations, general practice visits and medication use. Indirect costs included premature mortality and lost productivity. Results Direct health impacts for both conditions combined included 1454 ED presentations, 682 hospitalisations, 72 446 general practice visits and 7122 specialist visits. Indirect health impacts included 13 deaths and between 483 000 and 2.8 million days of lost productivity. Total costs ranged between A$126.5 million and A$436.7 million for asthma and between A$65.3 million and A$259.7 million for AR. Per-person annual costs ranged between A$1918 and A$6617 for asthma and between A$597 and A$2374 for AR. Conclusions The main financial burden due to asthma and AR was related to productivity losses from presenteeism and absenteeism. The magnitude of the economic impacts of AR and asthma warrants further analysis to produce a national-level assessment. Such analyses could identify cost-effective interventions that produce highest benefits for the management of these conditions in our community. What is known about the topic? Allergic respiratory diseases, and particularly asthma and AR, pose a significant health burden, with effects including asthma-related hospital admissions, significant pharmaceutical expenditure and lost workforce and school education productivity. Australia, and particularly Tasmania, has a high prevalence of these conditions, but no recent studies have appraised or estimated their health impacts and costs. What does this paper add? This paper proposes a unique and transparent costing model that allows the costs of these conditions to be estimated while accounting for restrictions in data availability. The model is used to provide the first comprehensive costings of asthma and AR in Tasmania, Australia. We identified that the estimated health costs are dominated by productivity losses from presenteeism and absenteeism, and that total per person costs are higher for a person with asthma compared to one with AR. What are the implications for practitioners? This analysis has the potential to guide cost-effective interventions by identifying where the highest benefits may be obtained when managing these conditions in our community.
Gender and Wildfire: Landscapes of Uncertainty by C.ERIKSEN, Routledge, New York, 2013, 186 pp, ISBN 978 0 4155 0270 2 (hardback) US$125
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-04-2015
Fire in the Earth System
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 24-04-2009
Abstract: Wildfires can have dramatic and devastating effects on landscapes and human structures and are important agents in environmental transformation. Their impacts on nonanthropocentric aspects of the environment, such as ecosystems, bio ersity, carbon reserves, and climate, are often overlooked. Bowman et al. (p. 481 ) review what is known and what is needed to develop a holistic understanding of the role of fire in the Earth system, particularly in view of the pervasive impact of fires and the likelihood that they will become increasingly difficult to control as climate changes.
Wildfire Smoke, Fire Management, and Human Health
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-01-2005
Unprecedented smoke‐related health burden associated with the 2019–20 bushfires in eastern Australia
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 12-03-2020
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50545
The effects on mortality and the associated financial costs of wood heater pollution in a regional Australian city
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-08-2021
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.51199
The contribution of geogenic particulate matter to lung disease in indigenous children
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-07-2019
Abstract: Indigenous children have much higher rates of ear and lung disease than non-Indigenous children, which may be related to exposure to high levels of geogenic (earth-derived) particulate matter (PM). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dust levels and health in Indigenous children in Western Australia (W.A.). Data were from a population-based s le of 1077 Indigenous children living in 66 remote communities of W.A. ( ,000,000 km2), with information on health outcomes derived from carer reports and hospitalisation records. Associations between dust levels and health outcomes were assessed by multivariate logistic regression in a multi-level framework. We assessed the effect of exposure to community s led PM on epithelial cell (NuLi-1) responses to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in vitro. High dust levels were associated with increased odds of hospitalisation for upper (OR 1.77 95% CI [1.02–3.06]) and lower (OR 1.99 95% CI [1.08–3.68]) respiratory tract infections and ear disease (OR 3.06 95% CI [1.20–7.80]). Exposure to PM enhanced NTHi adhesion and invasion of epithelial cells and impaired IL-8 production. Exposure to geogenic PM may be contributing to the poor respiratory health of disadvantaged communities in arid environments where geogenic PM levels are high.
Unprecedented health costs of smoke-related PM2.5 from the 2019–20 Australian megafires
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-09-2020
Living on a flammable planet: interdisciplinary, cross-scalar and varied cultural lessons, prospects and challenges
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 05-06-2016
Abstract: Living with fire is a challenge for human communities because they are influenced by socio-economic, political, ecological and climatic processes at various spatial and temporal scales. Over the course of 2 days, the authors discussed how communities could live with fire challenges at local, national and transnational scales. Exploiting our erse, international and interdisciplinary expertise, we outline generalizable properties of fire-adaptive communities in varied settings where cultural knowledge of fire is rich and erse. At the national scale, we discussed policy and management challenges for countries that have diminishing fire knowledge, but for whom global climate change will bring new fire problems. Finally, we assessed major fire challenges that transcend national political boundaries, including the health burden of smoke plumes and the climate consequences of wildfires. It is clear that to best address the broad range of fire problems, a holistic wildfire scholarship must develop common agreement in working terms and build across disciplines. We must also communicate our understanding of fire and its importance to the media, politicians and the general public. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Seasonal distribution of pollen in the atmosphere of Darwin, tropical Australia: Preliminary results
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-2007
Dynamic ecological observations from satellites inform aerobiology of allergenic grass pollen
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
Ubiquinone electrochemistry in analysis and sensing
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-02-2023
Abstract: Ubiquinone (UQ) is a lipophilic compound present in most living organisms, where UQ's interesting but complex electrochemistry serves an important role in the transfer of electrons and protons within and across the mitochondrial membrane. We briefly review the electrochemical characteristics of UQ and its reduced state, ubiquinol, in solution and immobilized on electrodes, together with its application in electrochemical sensing and detection systems, for ex le, measuring redox status with reference to reactive oxidative species. The importance of the local environment, solvent, electrolyte, organic membrane, and pH, on the electrochemical behavior of UQ, is also discussed. We discuss techniques used for the direct detection of UQ such as liquid chromatography‐electrochemistry. Mediated electrochemistry of UQ allows for quantitative measurements of ions, small molecules, and other analytes such as glucose via chemical sensors and biosensors.
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