Xiaojie Wang1, Meifang Leng2, Yixuan Liu2, Zhengmin Min Qian3, Junguo Zhang2, Ziyi Li2, Liwen Sun4, Lijie Qin5, Chongjian Wang6, Steven W Howard3, Michael G Vaughn3, Yue Yan7, Hualiang Lin8. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China. 3. College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, USA. 4. Huairou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China. 5. Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. 6. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. 7. Cancer Prevention Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.. Electronic address: yanyue@sysucc.org.cn. 8. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: linhualiang@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Compared with mortality and hospital admission, emergency ambulance calls (EACs) could be a more accurate outcome indicator to reflect the health effects of short-term air pollution exposure. However, such studies have been scarce, especially on a multicity scale in China. METHODS: We estimated the associations of different diameter particles [i.e., inhalable particulate matter (PM10), coarse particulate matter (PMc), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)] with EACs for all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases in seven Chinese cities. We collected data on EACs and air pollution from 2014 to 2019. We used generalized additive models and random-effects meta-analysis to examine the city-specific and overall associations. Stratified analyses were conducted to examine the effect modifications of gender, age, and season. RESULTS: Significant associations of PM10 and PM2.5 with EACs were observed, while the PMc associations were positive but not statistically significant in most analyses. Specifically, each 10 μg/m3 increase in 2-day moving average concentration of PM10 was associated with a 0.25% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04%, 0.47%] increase in all-cause EACs, 0.13% (95% CI: -0.01%, 0.26%) in cardiovascular EACs, and 0.35% (95% CI: 0.04%, 0.66%) in respiratory EACs. The corresponding increases in daily EACs for PM2.5 were 0.30% (95% CI, 0.03%, 0.57%), 0.13% (95% CI, -0.07%, 0.33%), and 0.46% (95% CI, 0.01%, 0.92%). Season of the year also modifies the association between particulate matter pollution and EACs. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 were positively associated with daily all-cause and respiratory-related EACs. The associations were stronger during warm season than cold season. Our findings suggest that the most harmful fraction of particulate matter pollution is PM2.5, which has important implications for current air quality guidelines and regulations in China.
BACKGROUND: Compared with mortality and hospital admission, emergency ambulance calls (EACs) could be a more accurate outcome indicator to reflect the health effects of short-term air pollution exposure. However, such studies have been scarce, especially on a multicity scale in China. METHODS: We estimated the associations of different diameter particles [i.e., inhalable particulate matter (PM10), coarse particulate matter (PMc), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)] with EACs for all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases in seven Chinese cities. We collected data on EACs and air pollution from 2014 to 2019. We used generalized additive models and random-effects meta-analysis to examine the city-specific and overall associations. Stratified analyses were conducted to examine the effect modifications of gender, age, and season. RESULTS: Significant associations of PM10 and PM2.5 with EACs were observed, while the PMc associations were positive but not statistically significant in most analyses. Specifically, each 10 μg/m3 increase in 2-day moving average concentration of PM10 was associated with a 0.25% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04%, 0.47%] increase in all-cause EACs, 0.13% (95% CI: -0.01%, 0.26%) in cardiovascular EACs, and 0.35% (95% CI: 0.04%, 0.66%) in respiratory EACs. The corresponding increases in daily EACs for PM2.5 were 0.30% (95% CI, 0.03%, 0.57%), 0.13% (95% CI, -0.07%, 0.33%), and 0.46% (95% CI, 0.01%, 0.92%). Season of the year also modifies the association between particulate matter pollution and EACs. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 were positively associated with daily all-cause and respiratory-related EACs. The associations were stronger during warm season than cold season. Our findings suggest that the most harmful fraction of particulate matter pollution is PM2.5, which has important implications for current air quality guidelines and regulations in China.
Authors: Seulkee Heo; Ji-Young Son; Chris C Lim; Kelvin C Fong; Hayon Michelle Choi; Raul U Hernandez-Ramirez; Kate Nyhan; Preet K Dhillon; Suhela Kapoor; Dorairaj Prabhakaran; Donna Spiegelman; Michelle L Bell Journal: Environ Res Lett Date: 2022-05-16 Impact factor: 6.947