Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire

Gabriela A. Willis; Kate Chappell; Stephanie Williams; Shannon M. Melody; Amanda Wheeler; Marita Dalton; Shyamali C. Dharmage; Graeme R. Zosky; Fay H. Johnston

doi:10.5694/mja2.50719

Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire

Gabriela A. Willis^*, Kate Chappell, Stephanie Williams, Shannon M. Melody, Amanda Wheeler, Marita Dalton, Shyamali C. Dharmage, Graeme R. Zosky, Fay H. Johnston

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate associations between exposure during early life to mine fire smoke and parent-reported indicators of respiratory and atopic illness 2–4 years later. Design, setting: The Hazelwood coalmine fire exposed a regional Australian community to markedly increased air pollution during February – March 2014. During June 2016 – October 2018 we conducted a prospective cohort study of children from the Latrobe Valley. Participants: Seventy-nine children exposed to smoke in utero, 81 exposed during early childhood (0–2 years of age), and 129 children conceived after the fire (ie, unexposed). Exposure: Individualised mean daily and peak 24-hour fire-attributable fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure during the fire period, based on modelled air quality and time-activity data. Main outcome measures: Parent-reported symptoms, medications use, and contacts with medical professionals, collected in monthly online diaries for 29 months, 2–4 years after the fire. Results: In the in utero exposure analysis (2678 monthly diaries for 160 children exposed in utero or unexposed), each 10 μg/m³ increase in mean daily PM_2.5 exposure was associated with increased reports of runny nose/cough (relative risk [RR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17), wheeze (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18–2.07), seeking health professional advice (RR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.29), and doctor diagnoses of upper respiratory tract infections, cold or flu (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14–1.60). Associations with peak 24-hour PM_2.5 exposure were similar. In the early childhood exposure analysis (3290 diaries for 210 children exposed during early childhood, or unexposed), each 100 μg/m³ increase in peak 24-hour PM_2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of asthma inhalers (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01–1.58). Conclusions: Exposure to mine fire smoke in utero was associated with increased reports by parents of respiratory infections and wheeze in their children 2–4 years later.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	269-275
Number of pages	7
Journal	Medical Journal of Australia
Volume	213
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50719
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2020

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@article{295d0faafa784cdab8db373b9a9e464a,

title = "Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire",

abstract = "Objective: To evaluate associations between exposure during early life to mine fire smoke and parent-reported indicators of respiratory and atopic illness 2–4 years later. Design, setting: The Hazelwood coalmine fire exposed a regional Australian community to markedly increased air pollution during February – March 2014. During June 2016 – October 2018 we conducted a prospective cohort study of children from the Latrobe Valley. Participants: Seventy-nine children exposed to smoke in utero, 81 exposed during early childhood (0–2 years of age), and 129 children conceived after the fire (ie, unexposed). Exposure: Individualised mean daily and peak 24-hour fire-attributable fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during the fire period, based on modelled air quality and time-activity data. Main outcome measures: Parent-reported symptoms, medications use, and contacts with medical professionals, collected in monthly online diaries for 29 months, 2–4 years after the fire. Results: In the in utero exposure analysis (2678 monthly diaries for 160 children exposed in utero or unexposed), each 10 μg/m3 increase in mean daily PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased reports of runny nose/cough (relative risk [RR], 1.09; 95\% CI, 1.02–1.17), wheeze (RR, 1.56; 95\% CI, 1.18–2.07), seeking health professional advice (RR, 1.17; 95\% CI 1.06–1.29), and doctor diagnoses of upper respiratory tract infections, cold or flu (RR, 1.35; 95\% CI, 1.14–1.60). Associations with peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure were similar. In the early childhood exposure analysis (3290 diaries for 210 children exposed during early childhood, or unexposed), each 100 μg/m3 increase in peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of asthma inhalers (RR, 1.26; 95\% CI, 1.01–1.58). Conclusions: Exposure to mine fire smoke in utero was associated with increased reports by parents of respiratory infections and wheeze in their children 2–4 years later.",

keywords = "Air pollutants, Atopy, Child health, Emergencies, Population health, Respiratory tract infections",

author = "Willis, \{Gabriela A.\} and Kate Chappell and Stephanie Williams and Melody, \{Shannon M.\} and Amanda Wheeler and Marita Dalton and Dharmage, \{Shyamali C.\} and Zosky, \{Graeme R.\} and Johnston, \{Fay H.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 AMPCo Pty Ltd",

year = "2020",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.5694/mja2.50719",

language = "English",

volume = "213",

pages = "269--275",

journal = "Medical Journal of Australia",

issn = "0025-729X",

publisher = "John Wiley \& Sons Inc.",

number = "6",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire

AU - Willis, Gabriela A.

AU - Chappell, Kate

AU - Williams, Stephanie

AU - Melody, Shannon M.

AU - Wheeler, Amanda

AU - Dalton, Marita

AU - Dharmage, Shyamali C.

AU - Zosky, Graeme R.

AU - Johnston, Fay H.

PY - 2020/9/1

Y1 - 2020/9/1

N2 - Objective: To evaluate associations between exposure during early life to mine fire smoke and parent-reported indicators of respiratory and atopic illness 2–4 years later. Design, setting: The Hazelwood coalmine fire exposed a regional Australian community to markedly increased air pollution during February – March 2014. During June 2016 – October 2018 we conducted a prospective cohort study of children from the Latrobe Valley. Participants: Seventy-nine children exposed to smoke in utero, 81 exposed during early childhood (0–2 years of age), and 129 children conceived after the fire (ie, unexposed). Exposure: Individualised mean daily and peak 24-hour fire-attributable fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during the fire period, based on modelled air quality and time-activity data. Main outcome measures: Parent-reported symptoms, medications use, and contacts with medical professionals, collected in monthly online diaries for 29 months, 2–4 years after the fire. Results: In the in utero exposure analysis (2678 monthly diaries for 160 children exposed in utero or unexposed), each 10 μg/m3 increase in mean daily PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased reports of runny nose/cough (relative risk [RR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17), wheeze (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18–2.07), seeking health professional advice (RR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.29), and doctor diagnoses of upper respiratory tract infections, cold or flu (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14–1.60). Associations with peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure were similar. In the early childhood exposure analysis (3290 diaries for 210 children exposed during early childhood, or unexposed), each 100 μg/m3 increase in peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of asthma inhalers (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01–1.58). Conclusions: Exposure to mine fire smoke in utero was associated with increased reports by parents of respiratory infections and wheeze in their children 2–4 years later.

AB - Objective: To evaluate associations between exposure during early life to mine fire smoke and parent-reported indicators of respiratory and atopic illness 2–4 years later. Design, setting: The Hazelwood coalmine fire exposed a regional Australian community to markedly increased air pollution during February – March 2014. During June 2016 – October 2018 we conducted a prospective cohort study of children from the Latrobe Valley. Participants: Seventy-nine children exposed to smoke in utero, 81 exposed during early childhood (0–2 years of age), and 129 children conceived after the fire (ie, unexposed). Exposure: Individualised mean daily and peak 24-hour fire-attributable fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during the fire period, based on modelled air quality and time-activity data. Main outcome measures: Parent-reported symptoms, medications use, and contacts with medical professionals, collected in monthly online diaries for 29 months, 2–4 years after the fire. Results: In the in utero exposure analysis (2678 monthly diaries for 160 children exposed in utero or unexposed), each 10 μg/m3 increase in mean daily PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased reports of runny nose/cough (relative risk [RR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17), wheeze (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18–2.07), seeking health professional advice (RR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.29), and doctor diagnoses of upper respiratory tract infections, cold or flu (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14–1.60). Associations with peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure were similar. In the early childhood exposure analysis (3290 diaries for 210 children exposed during early childhood, or unexposed), each 100 μg/m3 increase in peak 24-hour PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of asthma inhalers (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01–1.58). Conclusions: Exposure to mine fire smoke in utero was associated with increased reports by parents of respiratory infections and wheeze in their children 2–4 years later.

KW - Air pollutants

KW - Atopy

KW - Child health

KW - Emergencies

KW - Population health

KW - Respiratory tract infections

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85089085605

U2 - 10.5694/mja2.50719

DO - 10.5694/mja2.50719

M3 - Article

SN - 0025-729X

VL - 213

SP - 269

EP - 275

JO - Medical Journal of Australia

JF - Medical Journal of Australia

IS - 6

ER -

Respiratory and atopic conditions in children two to four years after the 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire

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