Title
Vegetation fires, particulate air pollution and asthma: a panel study in the Australian monsoon tropics
Link to article in PubMed
Author(s)
Abstract
We examined the relationship between particulate matter (PM) <10 and <2.5 microns in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5) generated by vegetation fires and daily health outcomes in 251 adults and children with asthma over a 7-month period. Data were analysed using generalized estimating equations adjusted for potential environmental confounders, autocorrelation, weekends and holidays. PM10 ranged from 2.6 - 43.3 microg m-3and was significantly associated with onset of asthma symptoms, commencing oral steroid medication, the mean daily symptom count and the mean daily dose of reliever medication. Similar results were found for PM2.5. No associations were found with the more severe outcomes of asthma attacks, increased health care attendances or missed school/work days. These results help fill a gap in the evidence about the population health impacts of lower levels of pollution characteristic of deliberate landscape burning to control fuel loads versus the better documented risks of more intense and severely polluting wildfires.
Publication information
Int J Environ Health Res. 2006 Dec;16(6):391-404. doi: 10.1080/09603120601093642.
Date Issued
2006-12-01
Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
International journal of environmental health research
Permanent link to this record
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