Health risks associated with PM2.5 concentration in Abidjan hospital, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Background/Aim Air pollution has detrimental consequences on the health of populations.. This study was to implement a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in order to quantify the impacts of air pollution levels on the major health outcomes done in five hospitals in Abidjan with regard to air pollution concentration levels, which will provide new results. Methodology Both exposure concentrations (µg/m3) and health issues were measured. The relationship between the health outcomes and air pollution concentration were estimated using a Poisson Regression model. Results PM2.5 Concentrations from the waste burning and traffic sites were comparable with annual averages (28.51 µg/m3 and 29.69 µg/m3 ). For domestic fires, the annual average was drastically higher at 155.1 µg/m3. For persons living in Cocody, up to 22 emergency room visits could have been avoided for the rainy seasons alone, including 10 deaths. Further, 11 outpatient health center visits could have also been avoided during the rainy seasons. In Yopougon, respiratory visits to the outpatient health center could be reduced more significantly. In considering results for the entire year (26.5 avoided outcomes) and the rainy season (76.7 avoided outcomes), we obtain different results as the HIA for the rainy season was calculated using a different timeframe at a higher risk level. A further 30 outpatient visits for heart and skin problems could also be avoided during the rainy season, given an adherence to WHO recommended levels. Conclusion Using the number of visits to either an outpatient health center or an emergency room as a proxy for adverse health effects, an association was seen between PM2.5 concentration levels and respiratory, cardiological, dermatological symptoms as well as mortality in the metropolitan area of Abidjan. Overall, we estimate that 143 hospital visits could have been avoided during the rainy seasons of our study period.