QUT health statistician and pollution expert Professor Adrian Barnett is available for comment on the serious health implications of the Hazelwood coal mine fire near Morwell, in Victoria.
The following quote can be attributed to Professor Barnett, of QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation:
"Coal smoke is very dangerous to health; we know this from some of the earliest epidemiological studies in this field on the London coal smoke smog of 1952 that killed around 12,000 people. This high number of deaths comes from a relatively low individual risk (around a 10 per cent increase in mortality during the London smog episode) applied to a large city population. So the more people who are exposed in Morwell, the greater the overall health problem will be.
"We would also expect emergency hospital admissions to rise, especially for respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Those at greatest risk are children, the elderly and those with pre-existing chronic disease. Pregnant women would also be advised to keep away from the smoke.
"Staying indoors or wearing masks does not offer complete protection from some of the smoke particles, which can be tiny and easily penetrate inside homes.
"If I lived in the area I would move my family away until the fire was out."
Media contacts:
- Professor Adrian Barnett, QUT, 0401694211
- Kate Haggman, QUT Media, 07 3138 0358, kate.haggman@qut.edu.au. After hours Rose Trapnell 0407 585 901
RELATED STORIES
Higher fuel prices a breath of fresh air - literally
Silent killer strikes at peak hour
Clearing the air on changing pollution risks
