Asthma Symptoms and Successful Wood-Smoke Reduction Strategies Implemented in Urban Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington

Abstract

Asthma Symptoms and Successful Wood-Smoke Reduction Strategies Implemented in Urban Tacoma-Pierce County, WashingtonAbstract Number:1720 Anar Shah* and Erik Saganic Anar Shah* Washington State Department of Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author and Erik Saganic Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractThe Tacoma-Pierce County region in Washington State is home to over a half million people. Unfortunately, this area was recently over the federal air quality limit for fine particle pollution (PM2.5). Our studies show a major cause for poor air pollution in this densely populated area is due to the 80,000 wood-burning stoves and fireplaces used in homes in the region. In Western Washington, PM2.5 is highest in the winter months. Many studies support a link between exposure to PM2.5 and asthma morbidity. During 2009-2011, the age-adjusted hospitalization rate per 100,000 people in Pierce County was 95 (95% CI: 91-99), compared to 72 (95% CI: 71-73) for Washington State overall. During 2006-2011, 15% (95% CI:11-21) of adults with lifetime or current asthma (asthma) in Pierce County reported visiting the emergency department due to asthma at least once in a year compared to 10% (95% CI:8-11) of adults in the rest of the state, excluding Pierce County. 13% (95% CI:8-21) of adults with asthma in Pierce County reported 7 or less days of symptom-free days in the past 2 weeks, which reflects poor asthma control. For the rest of the state, 11% (95% CI: 9-13) of adults with asthma reported the same during 2006-2011. The difference was not statistically significant. 25% (95% CI: 20-30) of adults with asthma in Pierce County reported using a wood burning fireplace or stove compared to 28% (95% CI: 26-30) in rest of WA. Over the last few years, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, WA State Department of Ecology, and their partners have worked on reducing diesel and wood smoke pollution in this sensitive community through special grants and enforcement programs, and have made significant progress. This presentation will include analyses on asthma and air pollution, how we’re fixing the wood smoke problem, recommendations for people with asthma to cope with air pollution, and our encouraging progress to reduce air pollution in the region and state.