New study published in Public Health Research & Practice challenges Australia’s ‘safe air’ narrative

Australia’s reputation for good air quality may be masking a significant public health issue, according to new national research published in Public Health Research & Practice.

Led by researchers from Deakin University, the study found that long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased hospital admissions for heart and lung disease across the country.

The researchers estimated that up to 7.5% of respiratory hospital admissions and nearly 4% of cardiovascular cases could potentially be prevented if pollution levels were reduced to those seen in the cleanest parts of the country.

Dr Clare Walter from the Deakin Lifespan Institute said the findings challenge assumptions that current air quality standards are adequately protecting public health.

“This is the first Australian study to provide national estimates of cardiorespiratory hospitalisations attributable to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide,” Dr Walter said.

“These estimates were used to inform a recent national analysis showing that heavy vehicle emissions in urban Australia were linked to thousands of preventable hospitalisations and premature deaths each year, costing Australians more than $6.2 billion in direct healthcare expenses.

“Even air pollution within legal limits harms heart and lung health. That’s why air pollution needs to be treated as a public health priority, not just an environmental issue.”

The study analysed whole-of-population data from 1,155 public health areas across urban, regional and rural Australia, finding higher hospitalisation rates in areas experiencing higher pollution levels.

“Australia’s long-held narrative of having ‘good’ air quality has fostered complacency,” Dr Walter said.

“Our air quality regulation focuses on ‘background’ (ambient) pollution, effectively the lowest exposure in a city. It does not capture higher, more harmful exposures experienced near roads, where many people live, work, and attend school. These near-road exposures vary by time and place and are largely unregulated, despite strong evidence of health impacts.”

Professor Lou Irving, coauthor and Respiratory Physician at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Director of Clinical Training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said air pollution should be viewed as a whole-body health risk.

“Air pollution particles are small enough to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and potentially affecting every organ in the body,” Professor Irving said.

“Longer-term exposure contributes to chronic heart and lung disease and lung cancer and has been linked to conditions beyond the heart and lungs, including neurological and diabetes.”

The findings also have implications for transport, energy, urban planning and climate policy, with the researchers arguing that reducing pollution further – even from already relatively low levels – would deliver measurable health and economic benefits.

This story is based on a media release originally issued by Deakin University and has been adapted for the Sax Institute website.