Bushfires, health protection and risk communication

The catastrophic bushfires of the Australian Black Summer (2019-2020) burned a total area of 19 million hectares, destroyed more than 3000 homes, displaced tens of thousands of people, and estimated to have killed billions of animals. The fires killed 33 people with 417 additional deaths attributed to smoke exposure. An estimated 10 million were exposed to hazardous bushfire smoke that lingered for weeks over Eastern Australia. Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne experienced record-breaking air pollution with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceeding World Health Organization air quality guidelines.

The HEAL Global Research Centre, in collaboration with the Centre for Safe Air, provides advice on how we can protect ourselves and others from bushfire smoke in the home, school, workplace and outdoor environment. We also provide advice on the communication of bushfire smoke risks to sensitive population groups, such as young children, people with chronic health conditions, and culturally and linguistically diverse groups.  

Project team: Sotiris Vardoulakis and Nigel Goodman 

Heaney, E., Hunter, L., Clulow, A., Bowles, D. and Vardoulakis, S., 2021. Efficacy of communication techniques and health outcomes of bushfire smoke exposure: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), p.10889.

Vardoulakis S, Jalaludin B, Morgan GG, Hanigan IC, Johnston FH., 2020. Bushfire smoke: urgent need for a national health protection strategy. Medical Journal of Australia 212 (8): 349-353.e1. DOI:10.5694/mja2.50511

Vardoulakis S., Marks G., Abramson M.J., 2020. Lessons learned from the Australian fires in the context of climate change, air pollution and health. JAMA Internal Medicine.  DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.0703

Walsh E.I., Sargent G., Cevik-Compiegne B., Roberts M., Palfrey N., Gooyers-Bourke L., Vardoulakis S., Laachir K., 2022. Bushfire smoke and children’s health - exploring a communication gap. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(19), 12436.