Health impact of bushfire smoke

A topical item in The Conversation this week, "What you can do about the health impact of bushfire smoke" has been written by epidemiologists Martine Dennekamp from Monash University and Fay Johnstone from the University of Tasmania.  The authors express particular concern about the very small PM2.5 particles of smoke that can penetrate deep into the lungs and have been shown to have an effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.  People particularly at risk, such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with a history of lung or heart disease, are advised to stay indoors with doors and windows sealed if they are near a fire area and cannot relocate.