Coal-mine fire-related fine particulate matter and medical-service utilization in Australia: a time-series analysis from the Hazelwood Health Study

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dc.contributor.authorJohnson, A.L.
dc.contributor.authorGao, C.X.
dc.contributor.authorDennekamp, M.
dc.contributor.authorWilliamson, G.J.
dc.contributor.authorCarroll, M.T.C.
dc.contributor.authorDimitriadis, C.
dc.contributor.authorDipnall, J.F.
dc.contributor.authorIkin, J.F.
dc.contributor.authorJohnston, F.H.
dc.contributor.authorMcFarlane, A.C.
dc.contributor.authorSim, M.R.
dc.contributor.authorStub, D.A.
dc.contributor.authorAbramson, M.J.
dc.contributor.authorGuo, Y.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractBackground: This study assessed the association between coal-mine-fire-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and medical-service utilization, following a 6-week coal-mine fire in Australia, in 2014. Areas in the immediate vicinity of the mine experienced hourly mine-fire-related PM2.5 concentrations of up to 3700 μg/m3. Methods: Data on medical-service utilization were collected from the Medicare Benefits Schedule—a national database of payment for medical services. PM2.5 concentrations were modelled using atmospheric chemical transport modelling. Quasi-Poisson interrupted distributed lag time-series analysis examined the association between daily mine-fire-related PM2.5 concentrations and medical-service utilization, including General Practitioner (GP) consultations and respiratory, cardiovascular and mental health services. Confounders included seasonality, long-term trend, day of the week, maximum daily temperature and public holidays. Gender and age stratification were conducted. Results: A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increased relative risk of service usage for all long and short GP consultations [11% (95% confidence interval: 7 to 15%)] and respiratory services [22% (4 to 43%)] in both men and women. Sex stratification found an increased relative risk in mental health consultations in men [32% (2 to 72%)] but not women. No associations were found for cardiovascular services in men or women. Conclusions: Coal-mine-fire-related PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased use of medical services for GP consultations and respiratory services in men and women and mental health consultations in men. These findings can inform the development of future public-health-policy responses in the event of major air-pollution episodes.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAmanda L Johnson, Caroline X Gao, Martine Dennekamp, Grant J Williamson, Matthew T C Carroll, Christina Dimitriadis ... et al.
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 2020; 49(1):80-93
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/ije/dyz219
dc.identifier.issn0300-5771
dc.identifier.issn1464-3685
dc.identifier.orcidMcFarlane, A.C. [0000-0002-3829-9509]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/133102
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherOxford University Press (OUP)
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1107107
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2019; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyz219
dc.subjectFine particulate matter (PM2.5); coal-mine fire; smoke exposure; physician visits; medical-service utilization; time series
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshRespiratory Tract Diseases
dc.subject.meshCardiovascular Diseases
dc.subject.meshAir Pollutants
dc.subject.meshFires
dc.subject.meshAir Pollution
dc.subject.meshInhalation Exposure
dc.subject.meshTime Factors
dc.subject.meshCoal Mining
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshAged
dc.subject.meshMiddle Aged
dc.subject.meshEmergency Service, Hospital
dc.subject.meshAustralia
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshParticulate Matter
dc.subject.meshGeneral Practice
dc.titleCoal-mine fire-related fine particulate matter and medical-service utilization in Australia: a time-series analysis from the Hazelwood Health Study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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