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Vegetation fires, particulate air pollution and asthma: a panel study in the Australian monsoon tropics
Citation
Johnston, F and Webby, R and Pilotto, L and Bailie, R and Parry, D and Halpin, S, Vegetation fires, particulate air pollution and asthma: a panel study in the Australian monsoon tropics, International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 16, (6) pp. 391-404. ISSN 0960-3123 (2006) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1080/09603120601093642
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 μg 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 PM 2.5. 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.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Air pollution; Asthma; Particulate matter; Prescribed burning; Vegetation fires |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecological applications |
Research Field: | Ecosystem function |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Johnston, F (Professor Fay Johnston) |
ID Code: | 63327 |
Year Published: | 2006 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 47 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2010-04-29 |
Last Modified: | 2010-04-29 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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