Bushfire smoke, environmental contamination, and respiratory health in a changing climate

Climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of bushfires worldwide. In Australia, major bushfire events have devastating environmental, economic, and health consequences, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, agriculture, water quality, and communities. While the immediate dangers of bushfires are well recognised, the long-term health impacts of bushfire smoke remain poorly understood. Bushfire smoke can travel vast distances and contains a complex mixture of hazardous pollutants, including fine particulate matter and highly reactive oxidant species known as environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). These pollutants can settle on soil, agricultural land, home gardens, and water systems, potentially creating long-lasting environmental contamination. Emerging evidence suggests that EPFRs may persist in burned environments for years after a fire event, yet little is known about their long-term effects on human health. This project will investigate how persistent pollutants from bushfires affect respiratory health and environmental safety. Using environmental samples collected from bushfire-affected regions and advanced cellular models of the human airway, the project aims to determine how long these harmful compounds persist and how they interact with respiratory epithelial cells, the first line of defence against inhaled pollutants.  

For more information, please contact Dr Ayaho Yamamoto