Health impacts of bushfire smoke exposure in Australia

Walter, Clare; Schneider‐Futschik, Elena K.; Knibbs, Luke D.; Irving, Louis

doi:10.1111/resp.13798

Cited by 63 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…2 Systematic analysis of the impacts of landscape smoke exposure in Australia reveal an increase in hospital presentations for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, most marked when PM 10 exceed 40 μg/m 3 . 3 Biological factors can also affect air quality. Cities in south-eastern Australia have experienced episodes of epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) 4 with the Melbourne event of November 2016 exceptionally severe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Modelling based on the known effects sizes of increases in PM2.5 on mortality and morbidity in Australia suggest that 417 (95% CI 153–680) excess deaths were likely due to bushfire induced particulate pollution with 1124 (95% CI 211–2047) cardiovascular‐related hospitalisations and 2027 (95% CI 0–4252) respiratory hospitalisations 2 . Systematic analysis of the impacts of landscape smoke exposure in Australia reveal an increase in hospital presentations for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, most marked when PM 10 exceed 40 μg/m 3 3 …”

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confidence: 99%

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How can air quality affect health?

Douglass

2020

Internal Medicine Journal

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Over recent years, Australians have been subject to an unprecedented number of environmental events materially and visibly affecting air quality, including thunderstorm asthma and bushfire smoke. There is increasing evidence that poor air quality adversely affects health with consequences for mortality and morbidity with measured particulates (PM2.5) in January 2019 frequently exceeding World Health Organization standards. Biological factors can also impact air quality with thunderstorm asthma epidemics evidence of a prime example, the 2016 event being associated with severe impacts on health services. Given these events, consideration needs to be given to environmental health literacy which will support individuals with pre‐existing illness to recognise and mitigate as far as possible the effects of adverse air quality. Recognising the impact of poor air quality should also urge physicians to advocate for clean air as a necessity for good health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

How can air quality affect health?

Douglass

2020

Internal Medicine Journal

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“…PM 2.5 is a complex mixture, and its major source is combustion, such as traffic-related diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), industry, indoor cooking activities, and bushfires [4]. For example, the Australian bushfires in 2019-2020 had extreme impacts on air quality throughout the region and even the globally [5]. Thus, the global burden of cardiovascular disease caused by PM 2.5 may be much greater than that previously reported by WHO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The critical role of endothelial function in fine particulate matter-induced atherosclerosis

et al. 2020

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Ambient and indoor air pollution contributes annually to approximately seven million premature deaths. Air pollution is a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate materials. In particular, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) plays a major mortality risk factor particularly on cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation. A review on the PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis is needed to better understand the involved mechanisms. In this review, we summarized epidemiology and animal studies of PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis. Vascular endothelial injury is a critical early predictor of atherosclerosis. The evidence of mechanisms of PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis supports effects on vascular function. Thus, we summarized the main mechanisms of PM2.5-triggered vascular endothelial injury, which mainly involved three aspects, including vascular endothelial permeability, vasomotor function and vascular reparative capacity. Then we reviewed the relationship between PM2.5-induced endothelial injury and atherosclerosis. PM2.5-induced endothelial injury associated with inflammation, pro-coagulation and lipid deposition. Although the evidence of PM2.5-induced atherosclerosis is undergoing continual refinement, the mechanisms of PM2.5-triggered atherosclerosis are still limited, especially indoor PM2.5. Subsequent efforts of researchers are needed to improve the understanding of PM2.5 and atherosclerosis. Preventing or avoiding PM2.5-induced endothelial damage may greatly reduce the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis.

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“…[ 3 ] The bushfires demonstrated the significant health impacts of climate change-related disasters, that in this case included short term rises in cardiac and respiratory emergency department visits and hospital admissions. [ 4 , 5 ]…”

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confidence: 99%

What we learned from the 2019–2020 Australian Bushfire disaster: Making counter-terrorism medicine a strategic preparedness priority

Tin

Hertelendy

Ciottone

2021

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Bushfire disaster: Making counter-terrorism medicine a strategic preparedness priority With over 46 million acres burnt, 5900 buildings destroyed, and over $100 billion in damage and economic costs, the Australian bushfire season of 2019-2020, also dubbed the "Black Summer", is estimated to be the costliest natural disaster in the country to date, and put an unprecedented strain on response systems [1]. In light of the strain caused by the concurrent global COVID-19 pandemic, the uniquely vulnerable Australian healthcare system is highly susceptible to strategic, asymmetrical terrorist attack, which has been threatened by some radical extremist organizations [2].The Australian bushfires stretched the surge capacity of our fire and emergency services almost to the breaking point, and exposed weaknesses in the national healthcare system [3]. The bushfires demonstrated the significant health impacts of climate change-related disasters, that in this case included short term rises in cardiac and respiratory emergency department visits and hospital admissions [4,5].The longer-term morbidity and mortality impact resulting from fine particulate matter and environmental pollutant exposure is still being examined, with the subsequent societal repercussions not yet well understood. Additionally, there are concerns that Australia does not have a national health and climate change strategy or plan. The 2019 bushfires further exposed the lack of a coordinated multidisciplinary health services approach to disaster management. The exclusion of primary care health services in the various phases of the disaster cycle, and in particular in disaster response is a significant shortcoming [2].It is well established that natural disasters have resulted in long term mental health consequences in affected communities. It was estimated that 80% of Australians were directly or indirectly affected by the 2019 bushfires. The end of the bushfire devastation in March 2020 coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, further placing immense strain not only on Australia's health care sector, but that of the international community [6]. As of August 2020, over 2500 Australian healthcare workers in the state of Victoria alone have tested positive for . 2020 has been an extraordinary year in Australia, as it has been around the world, not just because of COVID-19, but due to the myriad of overlapping events that have strained our response capacity. This experience has demonstrated that to function effectively, healthcare systems must balance the response to cyclical natural disasters and seasonal viral outbreaks, while also managing the daily acute and chronic traumatic and medical conditions. This leaves little room to surge in the event of a large-scale manmade disasters such as a terrorist attacks, which could be timed to exploit healthcare systems and emergency services under duress.

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Health impacts of bushfire smoke exposure in Australia

Cited by 63 publications

References 25 publications

How can air quality affect health?

How can air quality affect health?

The critical role of endothelial function in fine particulate matter-induced atherosclerosis

What we learned from the 2019–2020 Australian Bushfire disaster: Making counter-terrorism medicine a strategic preparedness priority

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