45: Air pollution in Launceston and health outcomes

The relationship between air pollution in Launceston and health outcomes between 1992 and 2002 ($3,482)

Air pollution is of particular interest in Launceston where there are high levels of particle pollution from the use of wood heaters.

Wood smoke contains fine particles which collect within the Tamar Valley during the winter months. Measurements of particle levels in 1991 -1993 showed PM10 levels as high as 200 ug/m3 and average annual levels of 40 ug/m3 which, at the time, represented the highest levels recorded in Australia. The National Pollution Inventory in 1995-6 studied the source of air pollution in a number of cities and found that wood smoke from home heating accounted for 96% of the particles pollution in Launceston.

The previous study performed in 1991-93 showed that the admission rates to the Launceston General Hospital for respiratory illness in the winter was up to 4 times higher than the admission rates in the summers. The risk of admission was correlated with wind speed and direction, but not specifically with daily PM10 levels. The lack of correlation with particle pollution levels may have resulted from an unusual increase in respiratory admissions in March 1993, which was not seen in previous years.

This proposal is to build on the previous work by extending the analysis of any relationship between air pollution and adverse health outcomes using 10 year of data now available.