1. Markers of Cardiovascular Disease among Adults Exposed to Smoke from the Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire.
- Author
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Betts J, Dewar EM, Stub D, Gao CX, Brown DW, Ikin JF, Zeleke BM, Biswas S, Abramson MJ, and Liew D
- Subjects
- Adult, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Cities, Coal analysis, Humans, Particulate Matter analysis, Risk Factors, Smoke adverse effects, Smoke analysis, Victoria, Air Pollutants analysis, Cardiovascular Diseases epidemiology, Cardiovascular Diseases etiology
- 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, n = 336) and Sale (unexposed, n = 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, p = 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.
- Published
- 2021
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