207 Acute Incidence of Disease at Elevated Levels of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Dublin, Ireland

Abstract

Abstract Background Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been associated with disease incidence worldwide. In Ireland this is mainly produced by residential heating systems, particularly peat, coal and wood. This study aimed to explore the relationship between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and hospital admissions due to stroke, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and hip fracture in Dublin City and County between 2013 and 2017. Methods This was an ecological time series design utilising routine hospitalisation data collected from the national Health Service Executive (Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)). Incidence of hospitalisation for each disease was identified by county of residence. Mean daily PM2.5 levels for Dublin were calculated using monitoring data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s four monitoring sites. Disease incidence was organised by mean PM2.5 levels into 10μg/m3 categories and analysed using Poisson regression models correcting for minimum daily temperature at a lag of zero to five days. Results There was a significant increase in the short-term incidence of acute ischaemic stroke, AF, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and COPD when PM2.5 levels were above 50μg/m3 compared to when levels were below 10μg/m3 at one day post exposure when correcting for minimum temperature. Conclusion Controls need to be brought in to ensure that PM2.5 does not exceed a 50μg/m3 level due to the increase in disease incidence associated with same. The urban burning of solid fuels should be severely restricted.