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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Study protocol

Health effects of smoke from planned burns: a study protocol

Authors: David O’Keeffe, Martine Dennekamp, Lahn Straney, Mahjabeen Mazhar, Tom O’Dwyer, Anjali Haikerwal, Fabienne Reisen, Michael J. Abramson, Fay Johnston

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Large populations are exposed to smoke from bushfires and planned burns. Studies investigating the association between bushfire smoke and health have typically used hospital or ambulance data and been done retrospectively on large populations. The present study is designed to prospectively assess the association between individual level health outcomes and exposure to smoke from planned burns.

Methods/design

A prospective cohort study will be conducted during a planned burn season in three locations in Victoria (Australia) involving 50 adult participants who undergo three rounds of cardiorespiratory medical tests, including measurements for lung inflammation, endothelial function, heart rate variability and markers of inflammation. In addition daily symptoms and twice daily lung function are recorded. Outdoor particulate air pollution is continuously measured during the study period in these locations. The data will be analysed using mixed effect models adjusting for confounders.

Discussion

Planned burns depend on weather conditions and dryness of ‘fuels’ (i.e. forest). It is potentially possible that no favourable conditions occur during the study period. To reduce the risk of this occurring, three separate locations have been identified as having a high likelihood of planned burn smoke exposure during the study period, with the full study being rolled out in two of these three locations. A limitation of this study is exposure misclassification as outdoor measurements will be conducted as a measure for personal exposures. However this misclassification will be reduced as participants are only eligible if they live in close proximity to the monitors.
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Metadata
Title
Health effects of smoke from planned burns: a study protocol
Authors
David O’Keeffe
Martine Dennekamp
Lahn Straney
Mahjabeen Mazhar
Tom O’Dwyer
Anjali Haikerwal
Fabienne Reisen
Michael J. Abramson
Fay Johnston
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2862-y

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