Examination of Child and Adolescent Hospital Admission Rates in Queensland, Australia, 1995–2011: A Comparison of Coal Seam Gas, Coal Mining, and Rural Areas

Abstract

Objectives At present, coal seam gas (CSG) is the most common form of unconventional natural gas development occurring in Australia. Few studies have been conducted to explore the potential health impacts of CSG development on children and adolescents. This analysis presents age-specific hospitalisation rates for a child and adolescent cohort in three study areas in Queensland. Methods Three geographic areas were selected: a CSG area, a coal mining area, and a rural area with no mining activity. Changes in area-specific hospital admissions were investigated over the period 1995–2011 in a series of negative binomial regression analyses for 19 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) chapters, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Results The strongest associations were found for respiratory diseases in 0–4 year olds (7% increase [95% CI 4%, 11%] and 6% increase [95% CI 2%, 10%] in the CSG area relative to the coal mining and rural areas, respectively) and 10–14 year olds (9% increase [95% CI 1%, 18%] and 11% increase [95% CI 1%, 21%] in the CSG area compared to the coal mining and rural areas, respectively). The largest effect size was for blood/immune diseases in 5–9 year olds in the CSG area (467% increase [95% CI 139%, 1244%]) compared to the rural area with no mining activity. Conclusions for Practice Higher rates of hospitalisation existed in the CSG area for certain ICD chapters and paediatric age groups, suggesting potential age-specific health impacts. This study provides insights on associations that should be explored further in terms of child and adolescent health.

Air Quality in Association With Rural Coal Mining and Combustion in New South Wales Australia

“…Ewald estimated that monetary public health costs of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal power plants in New South Wales far exceeded the pollution fees paid by existing generators. Werner and colleagues reported that children's hospital admission rates in Queensland were highest in an area of coal seam gas development, followed by a coal mining area, and were lowest in a rural area without these features.…”

Is Increasing Coal Seam Gas Well Development Activity Associated with Increasing Hospitalisation Rates in Queensland, Australia? An Exploratory Analysis 1995–2011

“…Additionally, age-specific studies found increasing “Blood/immune” disease admission rates in a CSG study area compared to the other study areas and decreasing rates for one child/adolescent age group [20,21]. …”

“…A previous ecological study compared all-age hospitalisation rates in the same CSG study area used here to coal mining and rural/agricultural study areas and found that hospitalisation rates for “Blood/immune” diseases, “Neoplasms”, and “Congenital” outcomes increased in the CSG study area relative to the hospitalisation rates in the other study areas [ 19 , 37 ]. Additionally, age-specific studies found increasing “Blood/immune” disease admission rates in a CSG study area compared to the other study areas and decreasing rates for one child/adolescent age group [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…Rates increased for some health outcomes (e.g., “Blood/immune” and “Respiratory”) and age groups (e.g., 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 20–34 year old) in the CSG area compared to the other study areas [19,20,21]. This paper focuses solely on the CSG study area to examine whether changes in hospitalisation rates for residents of this area vary over time as a function of CSG development activity (e.g., construction, drilling of wells, etc.…”

Coal seam gas: a space‐based perspective

“…While such moves are often not universally well received in the community (Tlozek, ), the challenge is that as an industry, CSG is still subject to ongoing review over the nature of its impacts on society and the environment (Cui et al ., ; Fleming & Measham, ; Werner et al ., ). In addition to being technologically new, it is also case‐specific with respect to the interplay of different community stakeholder groups in discussions over best practice management.…”