1. Sub-Clinical Effects of Outdoor Smoke in Affected Communities.
- Author
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O'Dwyer T, Abramson MJ, Straney L, Salimi F, Johnston F, Wheeler AJ, O'Keeffe D, Haikerwal A, Reisen F, Hopper I, and Dennekamp M
- Subjects
- Australia, Environmental Exposure adverse effects, Environmental Exposure analysis, Particulate Matter analysis, Particulate Matter toxicity, Smoke adverse effects, Smoke analysis, South Australia, Air Pollutants analysis, Fires
- 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 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.- Published
- 2021
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