Impact on human health of particulate matter emitted from burnings in the Brazilian Amazon region

Eliane Ignotti,Joaquim Gonçalves Valente,Sandra De Souza Hacon,Saulo Ribeiro Freitas,Paulo Artaxo Netto,Karla Maria Longo

doi:10.1590/s0034-89102010000100013

Abstract

To analyze the impact on human health of exposure to particulate matter emitted from burnings in the Brazilian Amazon region. This was an ecological study using an environmental exposure indicator presented as the percentage of annual hours (AH%) of PM2.5 above 80 microg/m3. The outcome variables were the rates of hospitalization due to respiratory disease among children, the elderly and the intermediate age group, and due to childbirth. Data were obtained from the National Space Research Institute and the Ministry of Health for all of the microregions of the Brazilian Amazon region, for the years 2004 and 2005. Multiple regression models for the outcome variables in relation to the predictive variable AH% of PM2.5 above 80 microg/m3 were analyzed. The Human Development Index (HDI) and mean number of complete blood counts per 100 inhabitants in the Brazilian Amazon region were the control variables in the regression analyses. The association of the exposure indicator (AH%) was higher for the elderly than for other age groups (beta = 0.10). For each 1% increase in the exposure indicator there was an increase of 8% in child hospitalization, 10% in hospitalization of the elderly, and 5% for the intermediate age group, even after controlling for HDI and mean number of complete blood counts. No association was found between the AH% and hospitalization due to childbirth. The indicator of atmospheric pollution showed an association with occurrences of respiratory diseases in the Brazilian Amazon region, especially in the more vulnerable age groups. This indicator may be used to assess the effects of forest burning on human health.

Highlights

Biomass burning is a key issue in terms of air pollution emissions in large areas of South America, and in particular in the Amazon Basin
For each 1% increase in the exposure indicator there was an increase of 8% in child hospitalization, 10% in hospitalization of the elderly, and 5% for the intermediate age group, even after controlling for Human Development Index (HDI) and mean number of complete blood counts
No association was found between the AH% and hospitalization due to childbirth

Summary

Introduction

Biomass burning is a key issue in terms of air pollution emissions in large areas of South America, and in particular in the Amazon Basin. Smaller than 2.5 micrometers, are emitted through biomass burning, and have relatively long resident time in the atmosphere (around two weeks). These particles can be transported over long distances[2] and have a regional impact that covers a large area of South America.[2,21] Air quality over this large region is severely affected, with levels of air pollution much higher than the ambient air quality standards, because of the fine particle size in the smoke from biomass burning.[2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion