Impact of the 2019/2020 Australian Megafires on Air Quality and Health.

ABSTRACT: The Australian 2019/2020 bushfires were unprecedented in their extent and intensity, causing a catastrophic loss of habitat, human and animal life across eastern-Australia. We use a regional air quality model to assess the impact of the bushfires on particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) concentrations and the associated health impact from short-term population exposure to bushfire PM_2.5. The mean population Air Quality Index (AQI) exposure between September and February in the fires and no fires simulations indicates an additional ∼437,000 people were exposed to "Poor" or worse AQI levels due to the fires. The AQ impact was concentrated in the cities of Sydney, Newcastle-Maitland, Canberra-Queanbeyan and Melbourne. Between October and February 17

SUBMITTER: Graham AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8536818 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature