Abstract
Exposure to air pollutants is one of the factors responsible for hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The objective here was to estimate the effect of exposure to particulate matter (such as PM2.5) on hospitalizations due to certain respiratory diseases among residents in Volta Redonda (RJ). Ecological time series study using data from Volta Redonda (RJ). Data on hospital admissions among residents of Volta Redonda (RJ), between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, due to pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma, were analyzed. Daily data on PM2.5 concentrations were estimated through the CCATT-BRAMS model. The generalized additive Poisson regression model was used, taking the daily number of hospitalizations to be the dependent variable and the PM2.5 concentration to be the independent variable, with adjustment for temperature, relative humidity, seasonality and day of the week, and using lags of zero to seven days. Excess hospitalization and its cost were calculated in accordance with increases in PM2.5 concentration of 5 µg/m3. There were 752 hospitalizations in 2012; the average concentration of PM2.5 was 17.2 µg/m3; the effects of exposure were significant at lag 2 (RR = 1.017), lag 5 (RR = 1.022) and lag 7 (RR = 1,020). A decrease in PM2.5 concentration of 5 µg/m3 could reduce admissions by up to 76 cases, with a decrease in spending of R$ 84,000 a year. The findings from this study provide support for implementing public health policies in this municipality, which is an important steelmaking center.
Highlights
Hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases may result from acute exposure to air pollutants, among other causes
Studies in Brazil, both in large cities and in medium-sized cities, have shown that respiratory diseases other than pneumonia are noticeably influenced by the effects of exposure to air pollutants, such as particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO), thereby leading to hospitalizations.[4,5,6,7,8]
Hospital admissions with diagnoses of pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma accounted for 752 cases, with costs of around R$ 850,000
Summary
Hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases may result from acute exposure to air pollutants, among other causes. In 2012, 1.3 million hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases (chapter 10 of the International Classification of Diseases, ICD, 10th revision) occurred in Brazil These gave rise to expenditure of approximately R$ 1.2 billion; of these, 64,000 hospitalizations were in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with an expenditure of R$ 55 million (US$ 1 ≈ R$ 2.00 at that time).[1]. Several factors, such as low birth weight, parental smoking, lack of breastfeeding, in addition to the effects of exposure to air pollutants are known to be associated with pneumonia.[2,3] Studies in Brazil, both in large cities and in medium-sized cities, have shown that respiratory diseases other than pneumonia are noticeably influenced by the effects of exposure to air pollutants, such as particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO), thereby leading to hospitalizations.[4,5,6,7,8]
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