Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires

Sharon L Campbell,Penelope J Jones,Fay H Johnston,Grant J Williamson,David M J S Bowman,Christopher Lucani,Amanda J Wheeler

doi:10.3390/fire3030040

Abstract

In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019–20, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large and prolonged exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recorded in all major population centers. We examined if AirRater, a free smartphone app that reports air quality and tracks user symptoms in near real-time, assisted those populations to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 AirRater users to assess how they used this information during the 2019–20 bushfire season, and why it was helpful to aid decision-making in reducing personal smoke exposure. We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported the app was highly useful, supporting informed decision-making regarding daily activities during the smoke-affected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Innovative and easy-to-use smartphone apps such as AirRater, that provide individual-level and location-specific data, can enable users to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and therefore protect their health.

Highlights

Landscape fires cause major environmental, economic, social and health impacts, both through the direct effects of fire and from consequential negative impacts on air quality [1,2].Climate projections indicate a substantially greater fire risk in the future, with a warming climate driving conditions that precipitate landscape fires
Using a case study approach, this study aims to investigate if digital technology is useful in helping individuals to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their
Our study shows that prolonged and severe smoke events, such as those occurring in Australia study shows thatseason, prolonged severe smoke events, such as those occurring in Australia over Our the 2019–20 summer haveand substantial and potentially serious health and social impacts over the

Summary

Introduction

Climate projections indicate a substantially greater fire risk in the future, with a warming climate driving conditions that precipitate landscape fires. These include more severe and prolonged droughts resulting in increased fuel loads and increased efficiency of ignition sources, such as dry lightning [3,4]. These conditions have major implications for human health, as landscape fire smoke has a well-established association with poor health outcomes—Johnston et al estimated 339,000 deaths annually are attributable to landscape fire smoke exposure worldwide [2]. There is some evidence for health impacts on pregnant women and their developing fetus [15,16]

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