NSW researchers study how P2 surgical masks could protect people with chronic medical conditions from bushfire smoke

For the past year, Abrar Chughtai has been researching how masks prevent the spread of coronavirus.

But the epidemiologist from the University of NSW (UNSW) has wound back the clock to focus on how masks can help with a pre-pandemic problem.

"We have a very strong team in UNSW and we have done many clinical trials on infection control, but we [now] want to use our expertise on bushfire smoke," Dr Chugtai said.

'This is really important research; the problem is, we don't have any data around the use of masks."

Last summer's bushfire crisis blanketed cities and towns across Australia with thick black smoke that swallowed up landmarks.

Exactly one year ago today — on January 5, 2020 — air quality was 22 times the hazardous level in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

In Sydney, pollution levels were classed as poor, very poor or hazardous on 50 days in 2019 — more than twice as many days as any other year in the past decade.

A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia and presented to the Australian Bushfire Royal Commission estimated the smoke was responsible for 417 deaths and more than 3,000 respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalisations.

And observational evidence showed increased levels of asthma attacks and impacts on vulnerable people, including the elderly and children.

But Dr Chughtai said there was no data available on the short or long-term impact of these types of fire events on the general population.

"There are some observations but the gold standard is a clinical-controlled trial so we want to conduct that," he said.

"The aim of this research is to determine whether the use of surgical and P2 masks protect people with asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis."

So far the study has 100 participants from the eastern states and the sample size will increase to at least 300 this year, with a view to expand it next summer.

'We're breathing dirty air'

Sydney man Ben Mansill said air quality was so bad during last summer's bushfires, it became "essential" to use an air purifier in his home.

He monitored the app that came with his purifier to check air pollution levels inside his home and how quickly it was cleaning the air as the levels spiked.

"I was in the throes of quitting smoking at the time, but didn't quite have the attitude to go all the way, but if I blew smoke anywhere near the machine the index would go straight up," Mr Mansill said.

Will Darvill, who leads the engineering team for Dyson's air purifiers, said people consumed roughly 9,000 litres of air each day.

"You wouldn't drink a glass of dirty water, however, often we go through our lives without realising we're breathing dirty air," Mr Darvill said.

Sotiris Vardoulakis, professor of global environmental health at the Australian National University in Canberra, warned the overall pattern in Australia was of increasing fire risks.

"This is not going to change in the long term. We need to be better prepared," Professor Vardoulakis said.

He said Australia needed more education around air pollution and said groups like Asthma Australia were pushing people to monitor air quality.

Household bushfire survival plans each summer should also include smoke plans.

Professor Vardoulakis also suggested regularly checking websites for air quality index (AQI) readings to keep abreast of spikes in PM2.5 levels — fine particulate matter too small for the eyes to see, that can cause long-term health effects.

"I think people are very well aware about the risk of UV radiation, sun exposure, we have the sun smart campaign," he said.

"We need a similar kind of campaign to raise awareness [about air quality]."