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Objective: To examine the relationship between the mean daily concentration of respirable particles arising from bushfire smoke and hospital presentations for asthma.

Design and setting: An ecological study conducted in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia) from 1 April – 31 October 2000, a period characterised by minimal rainfall and almost continuous bushfire activity in the proximate bushland. The exposure variable was the mean atmospheric concentration of particles of 10 microns or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) per cubic metre per 24‐hour period.

Outcome measure: The daily number of presentations for asthma to the Emergency Department of Royal Darwin Hospital.

Results: There was a significant increase in asthma presentations with each 10‐µg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ concentration, even after adjusting for weekly rates of influenza and for weekend or weekday (adjusted rate ratio, 1.20; 95% CI …