Doctors warn people may die as public health impact from Australian fire pollution bites

Doctors say there will be unpredictable and lasting consequences, especially for children, the elderly and asthmatics

As unprecedented bushfires continue to burn along Australia’s east coast, medical professionals are warning of unpredictable and lasting consequences for public health.

“I think for the population, what they feel, and the concern they have about this, is probably reasonable,” said Chris Moy, chair of the Australian Medical Association’s ethics and medico-legal committee.

Moy said the lasting impact of the bushfires and “the concern with respect to the air quality” was founded. He said “there are people who are going to probably die from these conditions”, particularly those “right at the edge of lung capacity”.

Related: Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons: the victims of the Australian bushfires

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from Asthma | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2MUtEWC