台灣可歸因於PM_(2.5)暴露之死亡負擔

Abstract

There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We reviewed the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2013 report on the attributable mortality burden due to PM_(2.5) exposure in Taiwan. We also conducted a local analysis to quantify the burden of mortality attributable to PM_(2.5) among Taiwan population in 2014 at the national and subnational levels. Subnational PM_(2.5) exposure levels were obtained from Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network. Relative risks were derived from previously developed exposure-response model. Population attributable fraction for cause-specific mortality was estimated at the county level using the estimated ambient PM_(2.5) concentrations and the relative risk functions. We found that, both in the GBD analysis and the local analysis, PM_(2.5) exposure accounted for a substantial mortality burden (over 6,000 deaths) in the Taiwanese population. Nationally the population attributable mortality fraction of PM_(2.5) for the four disease causes (ischemic heart disease, stroke, COPD, and lung cancer) was 18.6%. Substantial geographic variation in PM_(2.5) attributable mortality fraction was found. Ambient PM_(2.5) pollution is a major mortality risk factor in Taiwan. Aggressive and multi-sectoral intervention strategies are urgently needed to bring down the impact of air pollution on environment and health.