Policy Implications for Protecting Health from the Hazards of Fire Smoke. A Panel Discussion Report from the Workshop Landscape Fire Smoke: Protecting Health in an Era of Escalating Fire Risk

Christine T. Cowie, Amanda J. Wheeler, Joy S. Tripovich, Ana Porta-Cubas, Martine Dennekamp, Sotiris Vardoulakis, Michele Goldman, Melissa Sweet, Penny Howard and Fay Johnston
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Christine T. Cowie: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia
Amanda J. Wheeler: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia
Joy S. Tripovich: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia
Ana Porta-Cubas: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia
Martine Dennekamp: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia
Sotiris Vardoulakis: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
Michele Goldman: Asthma Australia, Chatswood 2067, Australia
Melissa Sweet: Croakey Health Media, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Penny Howard: Maritime Union of Australia, West Melbourne 3003, Australia
Fay Johnston: Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Liverpool 2170, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Globally, and nationally in Australia, bushfires are expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. To date, protection of human health from fire smoke has largely relied on individual-level actions. Recent bushfires experienced during the Australian summer of 2019–2020 occurred over a prolonged period and encompassed far larger geographical areas than previously experienced, resulting in extreme levels of smoke for extended periods of time. This particular bushfire season resulted in highly challenging conditions, where many people were unable to protect themselves from smoke exposures. The Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research (CAR), an Australian research centre, hosted a two-day symposium, Landscape Fire Smoke: Protecting health in an era of escalating fire risk , on 8 and 9 October 2020. One component of the symposium was a dedicated panel discussion where invited experts were asked to examine alternative policy settings for protecting health from fire smoke hazards with specific reference to interventions to minimise exposure, protection of outdoor workers, and current systems for communicating health risk. This paper documents the proceedings of the expert panel and participant discussion held during the workshop.

Keywords: air pollution; PM; landscape fires; bushfires; smoke; health risk; exposure; communication; protection; policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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