Markers of Cardiovascular Disease among Adults Exposed to Smoke from the Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire.
Juliana Betts; Elizabeth M Dewar; Dion Stub; Caroline X Gao; David W Brown; Jillian F Ikin; Berihun M Zeleke; Sinjini Biswas; Michael J Abramson; Danny Liew
Abstract
Little research has examined the effects of high concentration, medium-duration smoke exposure on cardiovascular health. We investigated whether six weeks of exposure to smoke from the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire in Victoria (Australia), was associated with long-term clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease approximately four years later, in adult residents of the towns of Morwell (exposed, = 336) and Sale (unexposed, = 162). The primary outcome was serum high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP). Blood pressure, electrocardiogram, flow mediated dilatation and serum levels of hs-troponin, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and lipids were secondary outcomes. There was no significant difference in weighted median hsCRP levels between exposed and unexposed participants (1.9 mg/L vs. 1.6 mg/L, = 0.273). Other outcomes were comparable between the groups. hsCRP was associated in a predictable manner with current smoking, obesity and use of lipid-lowering therapy. Four years after a 6-week coal mine fire, this study found no association between smoke exposure and markers of clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease in exposed adults.n
| Journal | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH |
| ISSN | 1660-4601 |
| Published | 08 Feb 2021 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph18041587 |
| Type | Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Sponsorship |