Associations between Respiratory Health Outcomes and Coal Mine Fire PM_2.5 Smoke Exposure: A Cross-Sectional Study

In 2014, wildfires ignited a fire in the Morwell open cut coal mine, Australia, which burned for six weeks. This study examined associations between self-reported respiratory outcomes in adults and mine fire-related PM_2.5 smoke exposure. Self-reported data were collected as part of the Hazelwood Health Study Adult Survey. Eligible participants were adult residents of Morwell. Mine fire-related PM_2.5 concentrations were provided by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship. Personalised mean 24-h and peak 12-h mine fire-related PM_2.5 exposures were estimated for each participant. Data were analysed by multivariate logistic regression. There was some evidence of an association between respiratory outcomes and mine fire PM_2.5 exposure. Chronic cough was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.23) per 10 μg/m³ increment in mean PM_2.5 and 1.07 (1.02 to 1.12) per 100 μg/m³ increment in peak PM_2.5. Current wheeze was associated with peak PM_2.5, OR = 1.06 (1.02 to 1.11) and chronic phlegm with mean PM_2.5 OR = 1.10 (1.00 to 1.20). Coal mine PM_2.5 smoke exposure was associated with increased odds of experiencing cough, phlegm and wheeze. Males, participants 18-64 years, and those residing in homes constructed from non-brick/concrete materials or homes with tin/metal roofs had higher estimated ORs. These findings contribute to the formation of public health policy responses.