Sub-Clinical Effects of Outdoor Smoke in Affected Communities

Thomas O’Dwyer, Michael J. Abramson, Lahn Straney, Farhad Salimi, Fay Johnston, Amanda J. Wheeler, David O’Keeffe, Anjali Haikerwal, Fabienne Reisen, Ingrid Hopper and Martine Dennekamp
Additional contact information
Thomas O’Dwyer: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Michael J. Abramson: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Lahn Straney: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Farhad Salimi: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Fay Johnston: Environmental Health, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia
Amanda J. Wheeler: Environmental Health, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia
David O’Keeffe: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Anjali Haikerwal: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Fabienne Reisen: Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Aspendale 3195, Australia
Ingrid Hopper: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Martine Dennekamp: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Many Australians are intermittently exposed to landscape fire smoke from wildfires or planned (prescribed) burns. This study aimed to investigate effects of outdoor smoke from planned burns, wildfires and a coal mine fire by assessing biomarkers of inflammation in an exposed and predominantly older population. Participants were recruited from three communities in south-eastern Australia. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) were continuously measured within these communities, with participants performing a range of health measures during and without a smoke event. Changes in biomarkers were examined in response to PM 2.5 concentrations from outdoor smoke. Increased levels of FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) (β = 0.500 [95%CI 0.192 to 0.808] p < 0.001) at a 4 h lag were associated with a 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 levels from outdoor smoke, with effects also shown for wildfire smoke at 4, 12, 24 and 48-h lag periods and coal mine fire smoke at a 4 h lag. Total white cell (β = −0.088 [−0.171 to −0.006] p = 0.036) and neutrophil counts (β = −0.077 [−0.144 to −0.010] p = 0.024) declined in response to a 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 . However, exposure to outdoor smoke resulting from wildfires, planned burns and a coal mine fire was not found to affect other blood biomarkers.

Keywords: smoke; PM 2.5; landscape fire; bushfire; biomarkers; FeNO; neutrophils; white cell count (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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