Abstract
There is a discussion in Europe about the dominant role of air pollution for health effects, most researchers claim that the particulate matter is responsible for inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, while others underline the role of nitrogen dioxide. The aim of the study was to assess the risk related to NOx, NO2 and PM2.5 concentration increase and daily outpatient visits or hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in the entire population of Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. To assess the relationship between daily pollutants concentrations and the number of outpatient visits or hospitalizations due to bronchitis and asthma (available in the regional registry), the multivariable log-linear Poisson regression model was used. Results were presented by relative risk (RR) of health outcomes related to the increase in pollutant concentration by unit (interquartile range). Obtained results confirmed a statistically significant association between outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation and daily nitrogen oxides concentrations in Silesian voivodeship, Poland. The strongest relationship was observed in the case of NO2 and outpatient visits due to bronchitis, e.g., RR = 1.434 (1.308–1.571) for exposure expressed by the 50-day moving average concentration. In the case of hospitalizations, the health effect was lagged a few days in relation to the increase in exposure.
Highlights
The quality of ambient air expressed by particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5, coarse and fine, respectively) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) concentration in Europe is steadily improving, current reports suggest that Poland is one of the countries where the level of pollutants are exceeding the EU limit values for PM10 and PM2.5 as well as NO2 introduced for protecting human health [1].While in the case of fine dust exposure (PM2.5 ) the number of premature deaths in Poland is one of the highest in Europe, in the case of exposure to NO2 the health effects in Poland are definitely lower [1]
There is a discussion in Europe about the dominant role of air pollution for health effects, most researchers claim that the particulate matter is responsible for inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, while others underline the role of nitrogen dioxide [8]
Obtained data confirmed the occurrence of two winter smog episodes in the study period, both of them were in January (4–7 January 2016 and 7–11 January 2017) in which the average temperature of ambient air was the lowest
Summary
The quality of ambient air expressed by particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5, coarse and fine, respectively) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) concentration in Europe is steadily improving, current reports suggest that Poland is one of the countries where the level of pollutants are exceeding the EU limit values for PM10 and PM2.5 as well as NO2 introduced for protecting human health [1]. While in the case of fine dust exposure (PM2.5 ) the number of premature deaths in Poland is one of the highest in Europe, in the case of exposure to NO2 the health effects in Poland are definitely lower [1]. Public Health 2020, 17, 754; doi:10.3390/ijerph17030754 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
