Health effects of bushfire smoke exposure

Bushfires (wildfires) are becoming more frequent and widespread due to the warming climate. The rate of prescribed (fuel reduction) burning has also increased to reduce the intensity of future bushfires. Smoke from bushfires can disperse widely and substantially diminish air quality and is therefore of public health concern. The most important risk related measure of smoke is fine particulate matter (PM2.5 aerodynamic diameter <2.5µm). These particulates are significantly elevated during bushfire smoke episodes and could affect large populations away from the fire source. While there has been substantial research into the impacts of ambient particulate pollution on health outcomes, there has been limited research into the impacts of bushfire smoke, despite the higher exposure levels involved. This thesis aimed to examine the health impacts of bushfire smoke exposure. In particular the thesis investigated the impact of bushfire fine particulate matter exposure (PM2.5) on cardiovascular and respiratory health effects during the Victorian 2006-2007 bushfires. Furthermore, the thesis explored the impact of smoke from prescribed burning on air quality and the potential effects on health. A systematic review was conducted to identify and evaluate studies examining the impact of bushfire particulate matter (PM) on cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The review indicated consistent and positive associations of PM from bushfire smoke with respiratory morbidity and all-cause mortality, and inconsistent associations with cardiovascular morbidity and cause specific mortality. The coarser particulate matter (PM10 aerodynamic diameter