More than 400 Australians died and almost 4500 were hospitalised as a result of smoke exposure during the summer bushfire season in Australia’s eastern states, environmental health researchers estimate.

Based on the known effects of fine-particle exposure and air-quality measurements from NSW, Queensland and Victoria between October last year and February, the researchers suggested that smoke from the bushfires led to an ‘unprecedented’ health burden, including 417 deaths in the three states and the ACT.

The team also estimated 2000 extra hospital admissions for respiratory issues and 1100 for cardiovascular problems, as well as 1300 asthma-related ED presentations.

The deaths and hospitalisations during the 19-week period of continuous fires were mostly attributed to days of moderate smoke exposure rather than record-breaking days, they said.