Effect of PM2.5 Levels on Respiratory Pediatric ED Visits in a Semi-Urban Greek Peninsula.

Nikolaos Kanellopoulos,Georgios Mavrovounis,Maria Mermiri,Konstantinos Gourgoulianis,Ioannis Pantazopoulos,Georgios Saharidis,Georgios Kalantzis

doi:10.3390/ijerph18126384

Abstract

Ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths worldwide. Particulate matter (PM)2.5 particles are believed to be the most harmful, as when inhaled they can penetrate deep into the lungs. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PM2.5 daily air concentrations and pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory diseases in a Greek suburban area. All pediatric ED visits for asthma-, pneumonia- and upper respiratory infection (URI)-related complaints were recorded during the one-year period. The 24-h PM2.5 air pollution data were prospectively collected from twelve fully automated air quality monitoring stations. The mean annual concentration of PM2.5 was 30.03 μg/m3 (World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) Annual mean concentration: 10 μg/m3). PM2.5 levels rose above the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) 24-h concentrations (25 μg/m3)), 178 times (48.6% of the study period). When PM2.5 levels were above the daily limit, an increase of 32.44% (p < 0.001) was observed in daily pediatric ED visits for respiratory diseases and the increase was much higher during spring (21.19%, p = 0.018). A 32% (p < 0.001) increase was observed in URI-related visits, when PM2.5 levels were ≥25 μg/m3, compared to the mean daily visits when PM2.5 levels were <25 μg/m3. Air pollution levels were associated with increased pediatric ED visits for respiratory-related diseases.

Highlights

Air pollution and its detrimental effects on human health have become a prevalent worldwide problem, causing approximately 4.2 million premature deaths each year [1].fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of equal or less than2.5 μm (PM2.5 ) is a predominant anthropogenic air pollutant produced mainly through the combustion of wood and fuel [2] and has been ranked as the 4th leading risk factor for disease in China [3]
World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines propose that PM2.5 exposure levels should not exceed a daily limit of 25 μg/m3 [4], people living in several urban and suburban areas worldwide are regularly exposed to higher levels [5,6]
When PM2.5 levels were above the daily limit, an increase of 32.44% (13.35 vs. 10.08 visits/day; p:

Summary

Introduction

Air pollution and its detrimental effects on human health have become a prevalent worldwide problem, causing approximately 4.2 million premature deaths each year [1]. 2.5 μm (PM2.5 ) is a predominant anthropogenic air pollutant produced mainly through the combustion of wood and fuel [2] and has been ranked as the 4th leading risk factor for disease in China [3]. World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines propose that PM2.5 exposure levels should not exceed a daily limit of 25 μg/m3 [4], people living in several urban and suburban areas worldwide are regularly exposed to higher levels [5,6]. Exposure to various PM2.5 components has been shown to be a significant risk factor for both cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [8]. High levels of PM2.5 have been strongly associated with the development of severe chronic respiratory diseases [10], as well as increased respiratory-related

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