Smog episode in Poland in January 2017 as a risk factor of increased hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular exacerbations

Abstract

Background: Burning solid fuels (coal, wood) in households is one of the most important cause of poor air quality in Poland (they are responsible for 55.8% and 52.1% of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate matter emission respectively). Together with unfavorable meteorological conditions (thermal inversion, high atmospheric pressure, no wind) these emission sources are conductive to the formation of smog episodes. Material and methods: Air quality (PM­2.5 and PM10 concentrations) in Warsaw and hospital admissions due to selected respiratory and cardiovascular exacerbations in the first 2 weeks of January 2017 and January 2016 in the Military Institute of Medicine (WIM) in Warsaw were compared. Admissions to all hospitals in Warsaw will be analyzed and presented. Results: In the first 2 weeks of January there appeared PM concentration not seen for at least 15 years. The average PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in that time in Warsaw were at the level of 38 μg/m3 and 45 μg/m3 whereas in the same time in January 2017 at the level of 46 μg/m3 and 56 μg/m3 respectively. The peak 1-hour concentration of PM2.5 reached the level of 243 μg/m3 and PM10 337 μg/m3. In the period of smog episode in January 2017 in comparison to the same period in 2016 the hospital admissions to WIM increased by 142%, 133% and 33% in case asthma, COPD and atrial fibrillation respectively. Conclusion: Smog episode which appeared in Warsaw in January 2017 caused significant increase in the number of hospital admissions due to asthma, COPD and atrial fibrillation.