Associations between Respiratory Health Outcomes and Coal Mine Fire PM2.5 Smoke Exposure: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

In 2014, wildfires ignited a fire in the Morwell open cut coal mine, Australia, which burned for six weeks. This study examined associations between self-reported respiratory outcomes in adults and mine fire-related PM2.5 smoke exposure. Self-reported data were collected as part of the Hazelwood Health Study Adult Survey. Eligible participants were adult residents of Morwell. Mine fire-related PM2.5 concentrations were provided by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship. Personalised mean 24-h and peak 12-h mine fire-related PM2.5 exposures were estimated for each participant. Data were analysed by multivariate logistic regression. There was some evidence of an association between respiratory outcomes and mine fire PM2.5 exposure. Chronic cough was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.23) per 10 μg/m3 increment in mean PM2.5 and 1.07 (1.02 to 1.12) per 100 μg/m3 increment in peak PM2.5. Current wheeze was associated with peak PM2.5, OR = 1.06 (1.02 to 1.11) and chronic phlegm with mean PM2.5 OR = 1.10 (1.00 to 1.20). Coal mine PM2.5 smoke exposure was associated with increased odds of experiencing cough, phlegm and wheeze. Males, participants 18–64 years, and those residing in homes constructed from non-brick/concrete materials or homes with tin/metal roofs had higher estimated ORs. These findings contribute to the formation of public health policy responses.

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

“…The study has several strengths. Unlike observational studies that have used only secondary data (such as hospitalization) to assess respiratory health, this research has built upon previously collected hospitalisation[10] and self-reported symptom data[12] with the inclusion of objective measures of lung mechanics. A further strength of this study was the inclusion of individual estimates of PM 2.5 exposure utilising a combination of detailed time-location diaries and spatially and temporally resolved modelling of PM 2.5 concentrations based upon coal combustion and weather conditions.…”

“…Retrospective modelling of the spatial and temporal distribution of mine fire-related PM 2.5 concentrations by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans & Atmosphere[19,20] was used due to the absence of ground-level air pollution monitoring at the beginning of the mine fire. Individual level mean daily PM 2.5 exposures over the mine fire period (51 days, between 9 February to 31 March, 2014) were estimated through linking time-location diary data (reported in the Adult Survey) with the modelled fire-related PM 2.5 exposure data as described by Johnson et al[12]…”

“…The Survey found increasing risks of respiratory symptoms, particularly cough, phlegm and wheeze, related to the mine fire exposure. [12] This analysis aimed to further investigate the association between exposure to mine fire smoke and long-term lung function as assessed by FOT, 3.5 to four years after the event.…”

Impact of a Large Fire and Subsequent Pollution Control Failure at a Coke Works on Acute Asthma Exacerbations in Nearby Adult Residents

“…One recent study reported increased asthma related ED visits and hospital admissions during PM2.5 elevations caused by a six-week long coal mine fire in Australia [15]. Other studies by that group documented increased symptoms, outpatient visits, and medication use for respiratory disease, including asthma, during this same OAP incident [16,17]. Increased respiratory symptoms were reported by nearby residents during and for several weeks after a large industrial fire in Texas, US, which burned and released PM2.5 and black carbon into the atmosphere for several days [18].…”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in adults exposed to fine particles from a coal mine fire

“…The HHS Hazelinks Stream which utilises administrative health datasets, has previously reported more COPD related emergency department presentations [16], medications dispensed for respiratory conditions [17] as well as visits to specialist respiratory services [18] during the mine fire period. The HHS Adult Survey, carried out 2.5 years after the mine fire, also identified higher risks of self-reported respiratory symptoms associated with individual-level mine fire PM 2.5 exposure [19]. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate clinical respiratory outcomes more than 3.5 years after the fire, particularly the risk of COPD and related respiratory symptoms, and their association with individual-level coalmine fire PM 2.5 exposure.…”