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Health Impacts of Ambient Biomass Smoke in Tasmania, Australia

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  • Nicolas Borchers-Arriagada

    (Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia
    New South Wales Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, University of Tasmania, Hobart 2522, Tasmania, Australia)

  • Andrew J. Palmer

    (Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia
    Centre for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia)

  • David M.J.S. Bowman

    (School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston 7250, Tasmania, Australia)

  • Grant J. Williamson

    (School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston 7250, Tasmania, Australia)

  • Fay H. Johnston

    (Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia)

Abstract

The island state of Tasmania has marked seasonal variations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations related to wood heating during winter, planned forest fires during autumn and spring, and bushfires during summer. Biomass smoke causes considerable health harms and associated costs. We estimated the historical health burden from PM 2.5 attributable to wood heater smoke (WHS) and landscape fire smoke (LFS) in Tasmania between 2010 and 2019. We calculated the daily population level exposure to WHS- and LFS-related PM 2.5 and estimated the number of cases and health costs due to premature mortality, cardiorespiratory hospital admissions, and asthma emergency department (ED) visits. We estimated 69 deaths, 86 hospital admissions, and 15 asthma ED visits, each year, with over 74% of impacts attributed to WHS. Average yearly costs associated with WHS were of AUD$ 293 million and AUD$ 16 million for LFS. The latter increased up to more than AUD$ 34 million during extreme bushfire seasons. This is the first study to quantify the health impacts attributable to biomass smoke for Tasmania. We estimated substantial impacts, which could be reduced through replacing heating technologies, improving fire management, and possibly implementing integrated strategies. This would most likely produce important and cost-effective health benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Borchers-Arriagada & Andrew J. Palmer & David M.J.S. Bowman & Grant J. Williamson & Fay H. Johnston, 2020. "Health Impacts of Ambient Biomass Smoke in Tasmania, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3264-:d:355042
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Moeltner, K. & Kim, M.-K. & Zhu, E. & Yang, W., 2013. "Wildfire smoke and health impacts: A closer look at fire attributes and their marginal effects," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 476-496.
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    4. Gerardo Sanchez Martinez & Joseph V. Spadaro & Dimitris Chapizanis & Vladimir Kendrovski & Mihail Kochubovski & Pierpaolo Mudu, 2018. "Health Impacts and Economic Costs of Air Pollution in the Metropolitan Area of Skopje," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, March.
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