A time-stratified case crossover analysis has determined that wood smoke pollution may negatively affect the respiratory health of residents in mid-size towns in New Zealand. A total of 1870 general practitioner visits for acute respiratory infections were assessed over 5 consecutive winters (May-August 2014-2018), and daily air concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 μm (PM10) were obtained from a fixed-site monitoring station. A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10 concentration increased the odds of a general practitioner visit for an acute respiratory infection within 24 hours in females (odds ratio 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15) and in Māori of both sexes (odds ratio 1.20; 95% CI 1.04-1.38). The study authors commented that those most affected by wood smoke are also likely to be most affected by woodburner phase-out policies, and that air quality and housing policies must be integrated to achieve improved health.
