Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Mortality in the Urban Area of Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

This study examines the effects of short-term exposure to PM10 and O3 on all-cause, cardiorespiratory, and cerebrovascular mortality in the urban area of Thessaloniki, Greece. An analysis was performed on the vulnerable subgroup (the elderly population). The primary effect estimates employed were the relative risks for every 10 µg/m3 increase in air pollutant concentrations. Strong associations between PM10 and O3 levels on mortality were reported, with the elderly people becoming frailer. An increase of 10 μgr/m3 in PM10 concentration resulted in a 2.3% (95% CI: 0.8–3.8) and 2% (95% CI: 0.1–4.5) increase in total and cardiorespiratory mortality, respectively. O3 concentrations showed even stronger associations for all-cause (3.9%, 95% CI: 2.5–5.3) and cardiorespiratory deaths (5.3%, 95% CI: 3.1–7.7) with 10 μgr/m3 increases; no statistically significant associations were found for cerebrovascular causes, while both pollutants presented stronger impacts on health between day 0 and 3. Concerning the elderly, the total mortality rose by 3.2% (95% CI: 1.5–5) due to PM10 concentrations and by 4.4% (95% CI: 2.9–6) due to O3 concentrations. In total, 242 (170) all-cause deaths were annually attributed to the PM10 (O3) level in Thessaloniki. In the efforts towards achieving a sustainable environment for humanity, health benefits resulting from two air pollution abatement scenarios (a 20% reduction in PM10 levels and full compliance to the European Union PM10 limits) were quantified. The analysis led to a respective decrease in total excess mortality by 0.4% and 1.8%, respectively. This outcome stresses the necessity of appropriate civil protection actions and provides valuable scientific knowledge to national and regional administrations in order to develop proper health and air quality plans.