Citation

Smith CL, Gao CX, Xu R, Ikin JF, Dimitriadis C, Carroll MT, Sim MR, Stub D, Lane TJ, Abramson MJ, Guo Y. Environ. Res. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.envres.2023.115440

PMID

36758918

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2014, wildfires ignited a coal mine in Australia, burning for 6 weeks, releasing large amounts of fine particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM(2.5)). We investigated the association between individual PM(2.5) exposure and emergency department presentations (EDPs) within 5 years post-fire.

METHODS: Survey and exposure data for 2725 residents from an exposed and unexposed town were linked with ED administrative data from 2009 to 2019. The association between individual PM(2.5) and EDPs was assessed using recurrent survival analysis.

RESULTS: A 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) was associated with a 10% increase in respiratory EDPs (HR = 1.10; 95%CI:1.00-1.22) over 5 years post-fire. Increased risks of EDPs for ischaemic heart disease (HR = 1.39; 95%CI:1.12-1.73), atherothrombotic disease (HR = 1.27; 95%CI:1.08-1.50), and cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.10, 95%CI:0.99-1.22) were evident within 2.5 years.

CONCLUSION: PM(2.5) exposure from a 6-week mine fire increased the 5-year risk of respiratory conditions. An increased risk of CVD within 2.5 years post-fire subsided after this time.

Language: en

Keywords

Longitudinal studies; Coal; Particulate matter; Smoke; Emergency department; Data linkage; Survival analysis; Wildfires