scholarly journals Particulate Matter and Its Impact on Mortality among Elderly Residents of Seoul, South Korea

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Satbyul Estella Kim ◽  
Yasuaki Hijioka ◽  
Tatsuya Nagashima ◽  
Ho Kim
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Increased Risk

Climate change, air pollution, and the rapidly aging population are important public health challenges. An understanding of air pollution impacts is imperative for preventing air-pollution-related deaths and illnesses, particularly in vulnerable subgroups such as the increasing population of older adults. To assess the effects of short-term air-pollution exposure on the elderly, we conducted a time-series analysis (1996–2015) of the associations between particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) and deaths among elderly residents of Seoul, South Korea, which has a rapidly aging population. We also investigated the synergistic effects of temperature and the lag structures of the effects by sex, cause of death, and season. A 10 μg/m3 rise in the 4-day moving average concentration of PM10 was associated with 0.31% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18% to 0.44%), 0.32% (95% CI: 0.09% to 0.55%), and 0.22% (95% CI: –0.23% to 0.66%) increases in non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortalities, respectively. We found a significant and strong synergistic effect of PM10 concentration and ambient temperature on mortality in elderly people. PM10 posed an increased risk of non-accidental or cardiovascular mortality with increasing temperature, whereas the associated risk of respiratory death was highest on very cold days. The shape and length of the lag structure varied with the cause of death, sex, and season. Results indicate that elderly people exposed to PM10 are at increased risk of premature death. In the near future, these risks are likely to increase in step with the temperature rise associated with climate change and the continued population aging. Stronger emission controls will be needed to minimize the increased health risks associated with air pollution, especially in regions with high populations of elderly individuals.

scholarly journals Incident cardiovascular disease and particulate matter air pollution in South Korea using a population-based and nationwide cohort of 0.2 million adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ok-Jin Kim ◽  
Soo Hyun Lee ◽  
Si-Hyuck Kang ◽  
Sun-Young Kim
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
High Dose

Abstract Background While many studies reported the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter air pollution (PM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), few studies focused on incidence with relatively high-dose exposure using a nationwide cohort. This study aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 and incidence of CVD in a nationwide and population-based cohort in South Korea where the annual average concentration of PM2.5 is above 20 μg/m3. Methods We selected 196,167 adults in the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) constructed based on the entire South Korean population. Incidence of four CVD subtypes including ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke, and total CVD including all four was identified as the first diagnosis for 2007–2015. To assess individual exposures, we used annually-updated district-level residential addresses and district-specific PM concentrations predicted by a previously developed universal kriging prediction model. We computed individual-level long-term PM concentrations for four exposure windows: previous 1, 3, and 5 year(s) and 5 years before baseline. We applied time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of incident CVDs per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 after adjusting for individual- and area-level characteristics. Results During 1,578,846 person-year, there were 33,580 cases of total incident CVD. Average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations for the previous 5 years were 52.3 and 28.1 μg/m3, respectively. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposed for the previous 5 years was associated with 4 and 10% increases in the incidence of total CVD (95% confidence interval: 0–9%) and IHD (4–16%), respectively. HRs tended to be higher with earlier exposure for IHD and more recent exposure for stroke. The estimated shape of the concentration-response relationship showed non-linear patterns. We did not find evidence of the association for PM10. Conclusions Using a population-based nationwide cohort exposed to relatively high PM concentration, this study confirmed the association between PM2.5 and CVD incidence that was reported in previous studies mostly with low-dose environments. The magnitude and the shape of the association were generally consistent with previous findings.

scholarly journals Air pollution and the development of asthma from birth until young adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 2000147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Gehring ◽  
Alet H. Wijga ◽  
Gerard H. Koppelman ◽  
Judith M. Vonk ◽  
Henriette A. Smit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Asthma Incidence ◽  
Mite Allergy ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Pollution Exposure ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundAir pollution is associated with asthma development in children and adults, but the impact on asthma development during the transition from adolescence to adulthood is unclear. Adult studies lack historical exposures and consequently cannot assess the relevance of exposure during different periods of life. We assessed the relevance of early-life and more recent air pollution exposure for asthma development from birth until early adulthood.MethodsWe used data of 3687 participants of the prospective Dutch PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) birth cohort and linked asthma incidence until age 20 years to estimated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), <10 μm (PM10), and 2.5–10 μm, and PM2.5 absorbance (“soot”) at the residential address. We assessed overall and age-specific associations with air pollution exposure with discrete time-hazard models, adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsOverall, we found higher incidence of asthma until the age of 20 years with higher exposure to all pollutants at the birth address (adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) ranging from 1.09 (1.01–1.18) for PM10 to 1.20 (1.10–1.32) for NO2) per interquartile range increase) that were rather persistent with age. Similar associations were observed with more recent exposure defined as exposure at the current home address. In two-pollutant models with particulate matter, associations with NO2 persisted.ConclusionsExposure to air pollution, especially from motorised traffic, early in life may have long-term consequences for asthma development, as it is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma through childhood and adolescence into early adulthood.

scholarly journals Long‐Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Incidence of Arrhythmias: A Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Zhang ◽  
Jeonggyu Kang ◽  
Yun Soo Hong ◽  
Yoosoo Chang ◽  
Seungho Ryu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Cardiac Arrhythmia ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Atrial Contraction ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prospective Association

Background Studies have shown that short‐term exposure to air pollution is associated with cardiac arrhythmia hospitalization and mortality. However, the relationship between long‐term particulate matter air pollution and arrhythmias is still unclear. We evaluate the prospective association between particulate matter (PM) air pollution and the risk of incident arrhythmia and its subtypes. Methods and Results Participants were drawn from a prospective cohort study of 178 780 men and women who attended regular health screening exams in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea, from 2002 to 2016. Exposure to PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 and ≤2.5 μm (PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively) was estimated using a land‐use regression model. The associations between long‐term PM air pollution and arrhythmia were examined using pooled logistic regression models with time‐varying exposure and covariables. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios (ORs) for any arrhythmia associated with a 10 μg/m 3 increase in 12‐, 36‐, and 60‐month PM 10 exposure were 1.15 (1.09, 1.21), 1.12 (1.06, 1.18), and 1.14 (1.08, 1.20), respectively. The ORs with a 10 μg/m 3 increase in 12‐ and 36‐month PM 2.5 exposure were 1.27 (1.15, 1.40) and 1.10 (0.99, 1.23). PM 10 was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and premature atrial contraction. PM 2.5 was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and right bundle‐branch block. Conclusions In this large cohort study, long‐term exposure to outdoor PM air pollution was associated with increased risk of arrhythmia. Our findings indicate that PM air pollution may be a contributor to cardiac arrhythmia in the general population.

Health-relevant influences of air substances and meteorological conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Koller ◽  
Christa Meisinger ◽  
Markus Wehler ◽  
Elke Hertig
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Emergency Department Data

&lt;p&gt;For a long time it has been known that exceptionally strong and long-lasting heat waves have negative health effects on the population, which is expressed in an intensification of existing diseases and over-mortality of certain risk groups (Kampa, Castanas 2008). Often associated with heat are stagnant airflow conditions that cause a large increase in the concentration of certain air substances (Ebi, McGregor 2008). Many of these air substances have a strong adverse effect on the human organism (Kampa, Castanas 2008).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The aim of the project is to investigate the actual hazard potential of health-relevant air pollution- and climatological variables by quantifying the effects on human health of increased exposure to air constituents and temperature extremes. Different multivariate statistical methods such as correlation analysis, regression models and random forests, extreme value analysis and individual case studies are used.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As a medical data basis for this purpose, the emergency department data of the University Hospital Augsburg are regarded. In addition to the diagnosis, supplementary information such as age, gender, place of residence and pre-existing conditions of the patients are used. Among the air constituents, the focus is on ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. In the meteorological part, the focus is primarily on temperature, which is not only a direct burden but, as in the case of ozone, also has a decisive influence on the formation of ozone molecules. However, a large number of other meteorological parameters such as precipitation, relative humidity and wind speed as well as the synoptic situation also play a major role in the formation, decomposition process and the distribution of pollutants (Ebi, McGregor 2008).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The first major question to answer is whether air-pollution and meteorological stress situations are visible in the emergency department data. Further in-depth questions are which factors have the greatest negative impact, what is the most common environment-related disease, which weather conditions carry a higher than average risk and what are the health risks of climate change.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ideally, the analysis may also provide a short-term forecast from which to derive whether or not there will be an above or below average number of visits to the emergency department.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The project is funded by the German Federal Foundation for Environment (DBU) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) - project number 408057478.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Literature&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ebi K., McGregor G. (2008): Climate Change, Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, and Health Impacts. doi: 10.1289/ehp.11463&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kampa M., Castanas E. (2008): Human health effects of air pollution. In: Environmental Pollution 151(2): 362-367. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012&lt;/p&gt;

High particulate matter 2.5 levels and ambient temperature are associated with acute lung edema in patients with nondialysis Stage 5 chronic kidney disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1354-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping-Fang Chiu ◽  
Chin-Hua Chang ◽  
Chia-Lin Wu ◽  
Teng-Hsiang Chang ◽  
Chun-Chieh Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Lung Edema ◽  
Weather Factors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Ckd Stage ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Numerous studies have shown that exposure to air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), was associated with various diseases. We tried to determine the impact of PM2.5 and other weather factors on acute lung edema in patients with Stage 5 nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD Stage 5-ND). Methods In total, 317 CKD Stage 5-ND (estimated glomerular filtration rate 6.79 ± 4.56 mL/min) patients residing in central Taiwan who developed acute lung edema and initiated long-term dialysis were included in this case-crossover study. Pearson’s correlation test was used to examine the relationship of acute lung edema cases with PM2.5 levels and ambient temperature separately. Results The average PM2.5 level within the 7-day period correlated with acute lung edema incidence in the fall [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.23, P = 0.047] and winter (adjusted OR 1.99, P < 0.001). In winter, even a 3-day exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased risk (adjusted OR 1.55, P < 0.001). The average temperatures within 3 days in spring and summer were correlated positively with the risk (adjusted OR 2.77 P < 0.001 and adjusted OR 2.72, P < 0.001, respectively). In the fall and winter, temperatures were correlated negatively with the risk (adjusted OR 0.36, P < 0.001 and adjusted OR 0.54, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions A high PM2.5 level was associated with an increased risk of acute lung edema. High ambient temperature in hot seasons and low ambient temperature in cold seasons were also associated with increased risk. It is essential to educate these patients to avoid areas with severe air pollution and extreme ambient temperature.

scholarly journals Effects of climatic changes and urban air pollution on the rising trends of respiratory allergy and asthma

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gennaro D'Amato
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Air Pollution ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Respiratory Allergy ◽  
Bronchial Obstruction ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
European Respiratory Society ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Allergy And Asthma

Over the past two decades there has been increasing interest in studies regarding effects on human health of climate changes and urban air pollution. Climate change induced by anthropogenic warming of the earth’s atmosphere is a daunt- ing problem and there are several observations about the role of urbanization, with its high levels of vehicle emissions and other pollutants, and westernized lifestyle with respect to the rising frequency of respiratory allergic diseases observed in most industrialized countries. There is also evidence that asthmatic subjects are at increased risk of developing exacerbations of bronchial obstruction with exposure to gaseous (ozone, nitrogen diox- ide, sulfur dioxide) and particulate inhalable components of air pollution. A change in the genetic predisposition is an unlikely cause of the increasing frequency in allergic diseases because genetic changes in a population require several generations. Consequently, environmental factors such as climate change and indoor and outdoor air pollution may contribute to explain the increasing frequency of respiratory allergy and asthma. Since concentrations of airborne allergens and air pollutants are frequently increased contemporaneously, an enhanced IgE-mediated response to aeroallergens and enhanced airway inflammation could account for the increas- ing frequency of allergic respiratory diseases and bronchial asthma. Scientific societies such as the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Respiratory Society and the World Allergy Organization have set up committees and task forces to produce documents to focalize attention on this topic, calling for prevention measures.  

scholarly journals Association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and morbidity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Semczuk-Kaczmarek ◽  
Anna Rys-Czaporowska ◽  
Janusz Sierdzinski ◽  
Lukasz Dominik Kaczmarek ◽  
Filip Marcin Szymanski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Annual Average Concentration ◽  
Official Data

AbstractCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting the world unevenly. One of the highest numbers of cases were recorded in the most polluted regions worldwide. The risk factors for severe COVID-19 include diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. It has been known that the same disease might be worsened by chronic exposure to air pollution. The study aimed to determine whether long-term average exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Poland. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases and deaths for each voivodeship (the main administrative level of jurisdictions) in Poland were collected from March 4, 2020, to May 15, 2020. Based on the official data published by Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection voivodeship-level long-term exposure to main air pollution: PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 (averaged from 2013 to 2018) was established. There were statistically significant correlation between COVID-19 cases (per 100,000 population) and annual average concentration of PM2.5 (R2 = 0.367, p = 0.016), PM10 (R2 = 0.415, p = 0.009), SO2 (R2 = 0.489, p = 0.003), and O3 (R2 = 0.537, p = 0.0018). Moreover, COVID-19 deaths (per 100,000 population) were associated with annual average concentration of PM2.5 (R2 = 0.290, p = 0.038), NO2 (R2 = 0.319, p = 0.028), O3 (R2 = 0.452, p = 0.006). The long-term exposure to air pollution, especially PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 seems to play an essential role in COVID-19 prevalence and mortality. Long-term exposure to air pollution might increase the susceptibility to the infection, exacerbates the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and worsens the patients’ prognosis. The study provides generalized and possible universal trends. Detailed analyzes of the phenomenon dedicated to a given region require taking into account data on comorbidities and socioeconomic variables as well as information about the long-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 cases and deaths at smaller administrative level of jurisdictions (community or at least district level).

scholarly journals Association between Ambient Temperature, Particulate Air Pollution and Emergency Room Visits for Conjunctivitis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
soltan khalaila ◽  
Tara Coreanu ◽  
Alina Vodonos ◽  
Itai Kloog ◽  
Alexandra Shtein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Emergency Room Visits ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Coarse Particulate Matter

Abstract Background: Numerous studies have confirmed the association of ambient temperature and air pollution with a higher risk of morbidities, yet few have addressed their effect on the ocular system. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between temperature, air pollution, and emergency room visits for conjunctivitis.Methods: In this case-crossover study, the records of all emergency room visits to Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) from 2009 to 2014 were reviewed for patients with conjunctivitis. Daily exposure to fine and coarse particulate matter and temperature were determined by a hybrid model involving satellite sensors.Results: 6001 patients were diagnosed with conjunctivitis in the SUMC emergency room. We discovered a positive association between temperature increments and incidence of conjunctivitis. The strongest effect was found during summer and autumn, with an immediate (lag0) incidence increase of 8.1% for each 1 °C increase in temperature (OR 1.088 95%CI 1.046;1.132) between 24 and 28 °C in the summer and 7.2% for each 1 °C increase in temperature (OR 1.072 95%CI 1.036;1.108) between 13 and 23 °C in the autumn. There was no statistically significant association between fine and coarse particulate matter and conjunctivitis incidence.Conclusion: Temperature increases during summer and autumn are significantly associated with an increased risk of conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is not associated with non-anthropogenic air pollution. These findings may help community clinics and hospital emergency rooms better predict conjunctivitis cases and will hopefully lead to improved prevention efforts that will lower the financial burden on both the individual and the public.

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