ASTHMA PRESENTATIONS TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN WESTERN SYDNEY DURING THE JANUARY 1994 BUSHFIRES

Background. From 5 to 12 January 1994, the state of New South Wales su ffered from the worst bushfires seen this century. High levels of part iculate air pollution were recorded in western Sydney from 7 to 14 Jan uary 1994, with nephelometry readings reaching 10.24 (beta(scat) (10(- 4)/m) and particulate matter <10 mu readings peaking at 250.00 mu g/m( 3). The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an increa se in the proportion of asthma presentations to emergency departments (ED) in western Sydney as a result of the bushfire-generated particula te air pollution. Method. We retrospectively analysed the emergency ro om attendance books for asthma presentations from seven public hospita ls serving the Western Sydney and Wentworth Health Areas over hive 6-7 week periods, 17 December 1992 to 31 January 1993, and 17 December 19 93 to 31 January 1994. Air pollution and meteorological data were obta ined from local monitoring stations. Results. The difference in the pr oportion of all ED presentations that were due to asthma during the we ek of the bushfire-generated air pollution, compared with the same wee k 12 months before, after adjusting for baseline changes over the 12-m onth period, was 0.0067 (95% CI:-0.0007, 0.0141). The maximum daily ne phelometry reading was not a significant predictor of the daily number of asthma presentations to ED in any of the Poisson regression models . Conclusions. The bushfire-generated particulate air pollution in Jan uary 1994 did not result in an increase in asthma presentations to ED in western Sydney.