scholarly journals Early life exposure to coal mine fire smoke emissions and altered lung function in young children

Respirology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Shao ◽  
Graeme R. Zosky ◽  
Graham L. Hall ◽  
Amanda J. Wheeler ◽  
Shyamali Dharmage ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Taylor ◽  
B Borg ◽  
C Gao ◽  
D Brown ◽  
R Hoy ◽  
...  

AbstractIn 2014, a fire at the Hazelwood open cut coal mine (Victoria, Australia) burned for about 6 weeks. Residents of the adjacent town of Morwell were exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during this period. Three and a half years after the event, this study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of short-term exposure to coal mine fire smoke on asthma.A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken on a group of exposed participants with asthma from Morwell (n=165) and a group of unexposed participants with asthma from the control town of Sale (n=64). Town exposure status was determined by modelled PM2.5data for the mine fire period. Respiratory symptoms were assessed with a validated respiratory health questionnaire and symptom severity score. Asthma control was assessed with an asthma control questionnaire. Lung function testing included spirometry, bronchodilator response, and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide.There was no evidence that exposed Morwell participants had more severe asthma symptoms, worse lung function, or more eosinophilic airway inflammation compared to unexposed Sale participants. However there was some evidence that Morwell participants had more uncontrolled than well-controlled asthma, compared to the participants from Sale (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.71 95%CI: 1.02, 7.21, p=0.046).Three and a half years after exposure, coal mine fire smoke does not appear to be associated with more severe asthma symptoms or worse lung function, but may be associated with poorer asthma control.Summary take home messageIn people with asthma, short-term coal mine fire smoke exposure does not appear to have long-term impact on severity of asthma symptoms, lung function or eosinophilic airway inflammation, but may affect asthma control.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Sasha Taylor ◽  
Brigitte Borg ◽  
Caroline Gao ◽  
David Brown ◽  
Ryan Hoy ◽  
...  

Respirology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Kit Lee ◽  
Catherine L. Smith ◽  
Caroline X. Gao ◽  
Brigitte M. Borg ◽  
Kristopher Nilsen ◽  
...  

Respirology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolette R. Holt ◽  
Caroline X. Gao ◽  
Brigitte M. Borg ◽  
David Brown ◽  
Jonathan C. Broder ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Nicolette Holt ◽  
Caroline Gao ◽  
Brigitte Borg ◽  
Kris Nilsen ◽  
David Brown ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahn Straney* ◽  
Martine Dennekamp ◽  
Fay Johnston ◽  
Tom O'Dwyer ◽  
Malcolm Sim ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Shao ◽  
Graeme Zosky ◽  
Graham Hall ◽  
Rachel Foong ◽  
Amanda Jane Wheeler ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Thomas O’Dwyer ◽  
Michael J. Abramson ◽  
Lahn Straney ◽  
Farhad Salimi ◽  
Fay Johnston ◽  
...  

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 (PM2.5) 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 PM2.5 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/m3 increase in PM2.5 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/m3 increase in PM2.5. However, exposure to outdoor smoke resulting from wildfires, planned burns and a coal mine fire was not found to affect other blood biomarkers.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document