Abstract
Various fractions of particulate matter have been associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The purpose of our study is to analyze the associations between concentrations of PM2.5, PM2.5–10, PM10 and their chemical constituents (soluble ions) with hospital admissions due to circulatory and respiratory diseases among the elderly in a medium-sized city in Brazil. A time series study was conducted using Poisson regression with generalized additive models adjusted for confounders. Statistically significant associations were identified between PM10 and PM2.5–10 and respiratory diseases. Risks of hospitalization increased by 23.5% (95% CI: 13.5; 34.3) and 12.8% (95% CI: 6.0; 20.0) per 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5-10 and PM10, respectively. PM2.5 exhibited a significant association with circulatory system diseases, with the risk of hospitalization increasing by 19.6% (95% CI: 6.4; 34.6) per 10 μg/m3. Regarding the chemical species; SO42−, NO3−, NH4+ and K+ exhibited specific patterns of risk, relative to the investigated outcomes. Overall, SO42− in PM2.5–10 and K+ in PM2.5 were associated with increased risk of hospital admissions due to both types of diseases. The results agree with evidence indicating that the risks for different health outcomes vary in relation to the fractions and chemical composition of PM10. Thus, PM10 speciation studies may contribute to the establishment of more selective pollution control policies.
Highlights
The association between inhaled particulate matter (PM10 ), i.e., particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm, and harmful health effects is a relevant public health problem that has been widely documented in epidemiological studies carried out in various parts of the world
The data obtained from INPE relative to PM10 fractions and chemical constituents corresponded to 80% and 75%, respectively, of the study period (350 days)
The data on PM10 provided by the CETESB station corresponded to the full (100%) study period
Summary
The association between inhaled particulate matter (PM10 ), i.e., particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm, and harmful health effects is a relevant public health problem that has been widely documented in epidemiological studies carried out in various parts of the world. The effects associated with exposure to PM10 range from hospital admissions to deaths from respiratory and cardiac diseases, among the most vulnerable population groups, such as children and the elderly [1,2,3]. Particulate matter is classified as coarse (PM2.5–10 ) or fine (PM2.5 ) particles, which allows for its deposition in several parts of the respiratory system; eventually reaching the circulatory system [4]. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 947; doi:10.3390/ijerph13100947 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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