Acute effects of fine and coarse particulate matter on daily mortality in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey, México.

Abstract

Background: The Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM) is the third most populated city in Mexico. Ambien air pollution is a serious environmental problem in this city. Since fine particulate matter (PM2.5) measuring started, every year the measurements of particulate matter have more than double the annual mean values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect the human health.Objective: To estimate the effect of different particle size fractions on total and specific causes of mortality in the MAM, México, between 2004 and 2017.Materials and Methods: A retrospective ecological study was conducted, using time‐series analysis of daily total and specific causes of mortality, fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10) particles. The data were analyzing using Poisson Linear Additive Models controlling for trend, seasonality, day of the week and meteorological conditions, on the same day and at lags 1, 3 and 7.Result: Daily mean PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 concentrations were 26.59 μg/m3 (SD=11.06) and 48.83 μg/m3 (SD=21.15) respectively. An increase of 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5 was associated with 11.16% (CI95%: 1.03-21.39) increased risk of respiratory mortality in children <=5 years old and 6.6% (CI95% 3.31-9.37) increased risk of pneumonia-influenza in adults >=65 years old. Weaker mortality associations were observed with PM10-2.5.Conclusions: Positive and significant associations were observed between exposure to fine and coarse particulate matter and daily mortality in the MAM´s population.