Coarse particulate matter and emergency ambulance dispatches in Fukuoka, Japan: a time-stratified case-crossover study.

Takehiro Michikawa,Ayano Takeuchi,Kenji Tamura,Kayo Ueda,Hiroshi Nitta,Makoto Kinoshita,Takamichi Ichinose

doi:10.1007/s12199-014-0439-x

Abstract

There is no conclusive evidence of adverse health effects caused by short-term exposure to coarse particulate matter, so in this case-crossover study we looked for an association between exposure and emergency ambulance dispatches (as a proxy of acute health outcomes). We used data on emergency ambulance dispatches in Fukuoka City, Japan between 2005 and 2010. After excluding ambulance dispatches related to external injuries and pregnancy/childbirth, we analyzed data on 176,123 dispatches. Citywide daily mean concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were calculated from ambient monitoring data, and the differences between concentrations of SPM and PM2.5 were used as an exposure surrogate of coarse particulate matter. Using a conditional logistic regression model, we estimated the ambient temperature and relative humidity adjusted odds ratios (ORs) per 10 μg/m(3) increase in coarse particulate matter. The average daily concentration of coarse particulate matter over the study period was 9.9 μg/m(3), representing 33% of the total concentration of SPM. Elevated concentrations of coarse particulate matter were associated with an increase in respiratory disease-related emergency ambulance dispatches for adults aged 65 years or older (9,716 dispatches, OR for lag0-1 = 1.065, 95% confidence interval = 1.023-1.109). After additional adjustment for exposure to PM2.5, we observed a statistically non-significant increased risk (OR = 1.035, 0.986-1.086). We found weak evidence of adverse effects of short-term exposure to coarse particulate matter on human health.

Highlights

Accumulating evidence leaves no doubt that particulate matter has adverse effects on human health [1]
Objectives There is no conclusive evidence of adverse health effects caused by short-term exposure to coarse particulate matter, so in this case-crossover study we looked for an association between exposure and emergency ambulance dispatches
Elevated concentrations of coarse particulate matter were associated with an increase in respiratory disease-related emergency ambulance dispatches for adults aged 65 years or older (9,716 dispatches, odds ratios (ORs) for lag0–1 = 1.065, 95 % confidence interval = 1.023–1.109)

Summary

Introduction

Accumulating evidence leaves no doubt that particulate matter has adverse effects on human health [1]. In 2009, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported a causal relationship between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and mortality and cardiovascular diseases [2]. One concerns the associations between coarse particulate matter and mortality and Environ Health Prev Med (2015) 20:130–136 morbidity. Coarse particulate matter is typically classified as particulate matter measuring between 2.5 and 10 lm (PM10-2.5) in diameter. Exposure to coarse particulate matter is thought to adversely affect human health, there is no conclusive evidence of causal associations between short-term exposure to coarse particulate matter and mortality and morbidity [2]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion