title: The effects of the 2009 dust storm on emergency admissions to a hospital in Brisbane, Australia.
abstract: In September 2009 an enormous dust storm swept across eastern Australia. Dust is potentially hazardous to health as it interferes with breathing, and previous dust storms have been linked to increased risks of asthma and even death. We examined whether the 2009 Australian dust storm changed the volume or characteristics of emergency admissions to hospital. We used an observational study design, using time series analyses to examine changes in the number of admissions, and case-only analyses to examine changes in the characteristics of admissions. The admission data were from the Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, between 1 January 2009 and 31 October 2009. There was a 39% increase in emergency admissions associated with the storm (95% confidence interval: 5, 81%), which lasted for just 1 day. The health effects of the storm could not be detected using particulate matter levels. We found no significant change in the characteristics of admissions during the storm; specifically, there was no increase in respiratory admissions. The dust storm had a short-lived impact on emergency hospital admissions. This may be because the public took effective avoidance measures, or because the dust was simply not toxic, being composed mainly of soil. Emergency departments should be prepared for a short-term increase in admissions during dust storms.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health & Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia. a.barnett@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Adrian G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Munck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust