SINGAPORE - Australia's recent bush fire crisis caused nearly A$2 billion in smoke-related health costs, from premature deaths to emergency admissions for asthma, researchers say, a record for any fire season in the country and a pointer to future health costs as the planet heats up.
The researchers say the health costs and risk to lives attributable to bush fire smoke have the potential to increase dramatically as the frequency and intensity of wildfires increases with a hotter climate. To get a better idea of the direct health costs, they looked at the number of cases referred to hospital emergency departments for asthma, admissions to hospital for cardio-respiratory disorders and deaths from all causes linked to bush fire smoke in populated southern regions of Australia.
The total cost was well above the next highest estimate of A$566 million in 2002-2003 and more than nine times the median annual bush fire associated costs of A$211 million for the previous 19 years, they conclude. Health experts say the long-term exposure to high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter is still unclear, although research suggests it could increase cases of heart disease and stroke.
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