Objective Particulate matter with a diameter below 10 µ (PM₁₀) has been a major concern in the Tamar Valley, Launceston, where wood heaters are extensively used. We examined the relationship between PM₁₀ levels, meteorological variables, respiratory medications and hospital admissions for respiratory disease over the decade 1992–2002.

Methods PM₁₀ levels were provided by the Department of Primary Industry Water, Parks and Environment, and meteorological variables from the Bureau of Meteorology. We obtained hospital discharge codes for the Launceston General Hospital. Poisson regression was used for statistical analyses.

Results Mean daily PM₁₀ levels declined from 50.7 to 16.5 μg/m³. Hospitalisations for asthma decreased from 29 to 21 per month, whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increased and bronchitis/bronchiolitis remained unchanged. We found a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ to be associated with a 4% increase in admissions for acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis (p0.05), but no association with asthma or COPD was found. All respiratory diseases showed seasonal patterns of hospitalisation.

Conclusions This is the first long-term study in Australia to demonstrate an association between PM₁₀ levels and respiratory diseases. Reducing exposure to PM₁₀ may decrease hospital admissions for respiratory diseases.

Implication Better preventive measures, including sustained public health initiatives to combat air pollution, are required to reduce respiratory morbidity.