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Fine particulate matter ( PM 2.5 ) exposure during a prolonged wildfire period and emergency department visits for asthma
Author(s) -
Haikerwal Anjali,
Akram Muhammad,
Sim Malcolm R.,
Meyer Mick,
Abramson Michael J.,
Dennekamp Martine
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/resp.12613
Subject(s) - asthma , medicine , interquartile range , emergency department , particulates , evening , emergency medicine , environmental health , demography , ecology , psychiatry , sociology , biology , physics , astronomy
Abstract Background and objective The 2006–2007 wildfire period was one of the most extensive and long lasting fires in A ustralian history with high levels of fine particulate matter ( PM 2.5 ). Large populations were exposed to smoke for over 2 months. The study aimed to investigate the association between wildfire‐related PM 2.5 exposure and emergency department ( ED ) visits for asthma. Methods A time‐stratified case‐crossover design was used to investigate associations between daily average PM 2.5 and ED attendances for asthma from D ecember 2006 to J anuary 2007. ED data were obtained from the V ictorian Emergency Minimum Dataset. Smoke dispersion during the wildfire event was modelled using a validated chemical transport model. Exposure data (daily average PM 2.5 , temperature and relative humidity) were modelled for the study period. Various lag periods were investigated. Results There were 2047 ED attendances for asthma during the study period. After adjusting for temperature and relative humidity, an interquartile range increase in PM 2.5 levels of 8.6 μg/m 3 was associated with an increase in ED attendances for asthma by 1.96% (95% CI : 0.02, 3.94) on the day of exposure. Lag periods up to 2 days prior did not show any association. A strong association was observed among women 20 years and older (5.08% 95% CI : 1.76, 8.51). Conclusions Wildfire‐related PM 2.5 was associated with increased risk of ED attendance for asthma during the wildfire event. It is important to understand the role of wildfire PM 2.5 as a trigger for asthma presentations.