FAIRBANKS - Hospital visits for heart disease, stroke and lung afflictions in Fairbanks rise as the air quality deteriorates, according to new study by the state of Alaska.

A researcher with the state Section of Epidemiology combed over five years of records at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. She found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase of a harmful pollutant known as PM2.5:

• a 7 percent increased risk that someone under age 65 will visit the hospital because of stroke symptoms,

• a 6 percent increased risk for people over age 65,

• a 6 percent increased risk that someone under 65 will visit the hospital for a respiratory illness.

The examination of hospital visits is the first study looking at air quality health impacts in Fairbanks.

Other studies show that wood smoke is a major contributor to PM2.5.

“Basically, this study reaffirms what has already been demonstrated in similar studies performed outside of Alaska,” the study’s author, epidemiologist Rachel Kossover, said in a written statement. “People with heart and lung problems need to take air quality warnings seriously and follow the advice of local officials.”

Kossover said she did not look at a possible correlation between visits to doctors offices and days of poor air quality.

“It would be much more time consuming and technically difficult,” she said.

The study backs controversial efforts by Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins to improve air quality. A new set of borough regulations, approved by the assembly in May, target wood burning.

“I am not surprised by the results,” Hopkins said. “It’s unfortunate that people in our community are being affected by poor air quality. I hope that people understand that burning any home heating device that we want to keep our homes warm, it’s important, but we also need to be sure that people are aware of the results we continue to get with poor air quality.

“We have more health effects to our residents.”

Hopkins made reference to a ballot measure that, if approved, would appear to roll back the regulations on wood burning and the types of stoves that can be installed in the borough. Those found in violation of the new regulations are subject to fines starting at $30.

Voters on Oct. 5 will be asked to vote yes or no on the following statement: "The borough shall not ban, prohibit, or fine residents for the use of home heating devices."

A group called the North Star Landowners is backing the ballot measure. The group includes Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole.

Wilson legislative aide Rick VanderKolk, speaking on behalf of the ballot measure group, said the group acknowledges air quality is a problem. Its members don’t agree with the borough’s solution.

“We contend the borough is not capable of adequately addressing the problem through subjective code enforcement,” VanderKolk said. “We also maintain the more important correlation is the relationship between air quality and the cost of energy. As biomass technologies begin to thrive, such as the new wood pellet plant, air quality and the cost of energy will be addressed. Government regulation will solve neither.”

Some local leaders think approval of the ballot measure effectively would turn over air quality enforcement to the state. VanderKolk has said the ballot measure group supports a state-administered air quality program despite a voter desire, as indicated in passage of an advisory measure last year, to keep administration local.

The health study examined 5,718 visits to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, including 1,596 emergency room visits, for conditions related to heart disease, stroke and respiratory illnesses from September 2003 to December 2008. The emergency room visits studied were for the year 2008.

The researcher looked at the age of the patient and the primary diagnosis, correlating the information with hourly PM2.5 data collected from the borough Air Quality Program.

The researcher did not look for an association between deaths and PM2.5 concentrations. The Fairbanks population is too small to come up with meaningful conclusions, a Department of Health and Social Services fact sheet about the study stated.

Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 459-7544.