ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2215-388X
Current Organisation
Melbourne Research, University of Melbourne
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Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-10-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.14.20213009
Abstract: In 2014, a six-week long fire at the Hazelwood open cut coal mine exposed residents in the adjacent town of Morwell to high concentrations of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter .5μm (PM 2.5 ). The long-term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study (HHS). Approximately 3.5 to 4 years after the mine fire, adults from Morwell (n=346) and the comparison town Sale (n=173) participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the HHS. In idual fire-related PM 2.5 exposure was retrospectively modelled. Lung mechanics were assessed using the forced oscillation technique (FOT), which utilises pressure waves to measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs). Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations between PM 2.5 and transformed Rrs5, area under the reactance curve (AX5) and Xrs5 controlling for key confounding factors. There were clear dose-response relationships between increasing mine fire PM 2.5 and worsening lung mechanics, including a reduction in post-bronchodilator Xrs5 and an increase in AX5. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in mine fire related PM 2.5 was associated with a 0.015 (95%CI: 0.004, 0.027) reduction in exponential(Xrs5) post bronchodilator, which was comparable to 4.7 years of aging. Similarly, the effect of exposure was associated with a 0.072 (0.005, 0.138) increase in natural log(AX5) post-bronchodilator, equivalent to 3.9 years of aging. This is the first study using FOT in adults evaluating long term respiratory outcomes after a medium-term ambient PM 2.5 exposure to coal mine fire smoke. These results should inform public health policies and planning for future events.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-12-2022
DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1847931
Abstract: In 2014, a fire at an open cut coal mine in South-eastern Australia burned for about 6 weeks. Residents of the adjacent town were exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken in a group of exposed participants with asthma from Morwell ( There was no evidence that exposed participants had more severe asthma symptoms, worse lung function, or more eosinophilic airway inflammation than unexposed participants. However, there was some evidence that Morwell participants had more uncontrolled than well-controlled asthma, compared to the participants from Sale (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.71 95% CI: 1.02, 7.21, Three and a half years after exposure, coal mine fire smoke did not appear to be associated with more severe asthma symptoms or worse lung function but might be associated with poorer asthma control.
Publisher: American Thoracic Society
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-10-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.14.20213033
Abstract: In 2014 the Hazelwood open cut coal mine burned for six weeks, exposing nearby residents to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). The long-term health consequences are being evaluated as part of the Hazelwood Health Study (HHS). These analyses explore the association between PM 2.5 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A s le of 346 exposed, and 173 unexposed, adults participated in the longitudinal Respiratory Stream of the HHS. Participants underwent spirometry and gas transfer measurements and answered validated respiratory questionnaires 3.5-4 years after the fire. In idual level mine fire-related PM 2.5 exposure was modelled. Multivariate linear regression and logistic models were fitted to analyse associations between mean and peak PM 2.5 exposure and clinical outcomes, stratified by smoking status. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in mean PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a 69% (95%CI: 11% to 158%) increase in odds of spirometry consistent with COPD amongst non-smokers and increased odds of chest tightness (odds ratio OR 1.30, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.64) and chronic cough (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.51) in the previous 12 months in all participants. For current smokers, increments in mean PM 2.5 exposure were associated with higher odds of chronic cough in the preceding 12 months (OR 2.13, 95%CI 1.24 to 3.65). Almost four years after a six-week period of coal fire PM 2.5 exposure, we identified a dose-response association between exposure and COPD in non-smokers. With climate change a likely contributor to increased risk of landscape fires, the findings will inform policy decisions during future sustained smoke events. Are there long-term impacts of a six-week mine fire event generating PM 2.5 on COPD and related respiratory symptoms in adults? Almost 4 years after the mine fire, each 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a 69% increase in odds of spirometry consistent with COPD amongst non-smokers, and a 30% increase in odds of chest tightness and 24% increase in odds of chronic cough amongst all participants. Amongst smokers, each 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with a 113% increase in odds of chronic cough. With the recent megafires in Australia and the United States exposing communities to smoke for weeks to months, evidence of the long-term health impacts of similar duration PM 2.5 generating pollution events are needed to inform the public health response.
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