Low-level Air Research Articles

Low-level air pollution and cause-specific mortality in Denmark: the ELAPSE project

BackgroundThe association between air pollution and mortality requires further investigation in areas with low air pollution levels for evaluation of current air quality limits. Within the Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE) study we examined associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and cause-specific mortality in a Danish national administrative cohort.MethodsWe linked 3,334,143 Danish adults aged ≥30 years in 2000 to the Danish Cause of Death Registry until 2015. Annual mean concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC) were centrally modelled with European-wide hybrid ELAPSE land-use regression model in 2010 at 100m2 resolution. We applied Cox proportional hazard models for natural and cause-specific mortality in association with annual mean air pollution with age as underlying time, and adjusting for sex, education, employment status, birth country, area-level income and unemployment, and area-level lung cancer and COPD mortality rates.ResultsDuring 45,932,793 person-years of follow-up, we observed 817,029 deaths from natural causes in total, of which 245,489, 89,909, and 67,389 deaths were due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease (RD), and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), respectively. Mean levels of PM2.5, NO2 and BC were 12.4 µg/m3, 20.2 µg/m3 and 1,0 10-5m-1, respectively. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations of PM2.5, NO2 and BC with natural mortality were 1.13 (1.11-1.16) per 5 µg/m3, 1.09 (1.08-1.10) per 10 µg/m3, and 1.08 (1.07-1.10) per 0.5 10-5m-1, respectively. Corresponding estimates for CVD mortality were 1.11 (1.08-1.15), 1.07 (1.06-1.09) and 1.07 (1.05-1.08); for RD mortality were 1.13 (1.09-1.18), 1.12 (1.10-1.15) and 1.10 (1.08-1.13); and for CeVD mortality were 1.07 (1.02-1.11), 1.04 (1.02-1.07) and 1.04 (1.02-1.06). Associations persisted below PM2.5 and NO2 EU limit values for all outcomes.ConclusionsLong-term exposures to PM2.5, NO2 and BC were associated with mortality even below EU limit values.

Chronic effects of low-level air pollution on cause-specific mortality among 30 million residents of Europe: meta-analysis of 7 European large administrative cohorts in the ELAPSE project

Background Long-term exposure to air pollution has been related to cause-specific mortality. However, results vary across studies because of heterogeneities in exposure assessment and statistical analysis. In addition, there is uncertainty on the shape of the association at low concentrations. The multicentre Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE) study collected data from multiple European cohorts using standardized protocols for exposure assessment and statistical analysis, with focus on the exposure-response functions at low concentrations. Methods We analysed data from seven large administrative cohorts: Norway, England, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Rome, Italy. Annual average concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, BC and O3 were centrally modelled for Europe by hybrid land use regression at 100-m spatial resolution. Within each cohort we applied Cox proportional hazard models with adjustment for area- and individual-level confounders. We evaluated associations with cause-specific mortality (natural, cardiovascular, respiratory and lung cancer). Flexible approaches were used to capture non-linearity in the air pollution-mortality association. Finally, cohort-specific results where pooled into a random-effects meta-analysis. Results We analysed data on 27,896,312 subjects and observed 3,257,837 deaths from natural causes. We found significant associations with NO2 and PM2.5, with pooled hazard ratios (HRs) 1.04 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.07) and 1.05 (1.02, 1.09) per increments of 10 μg/m3 and 5 μg/m3, respectively. Similar results were obtained for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality, while higher estimates were reported for lung cancer mortality: 1.09 (1.02, 1.16) and 1.08 (1.05, 1.12). Associations with natural mortality remained significant when the analyses were restricted to very low concentrations, i.e. HRs below the WHO guidelines for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3) and NO2 (40 μg/m3) were 1.05 (1.00, 1.11) and 1.05 (1.02, 1.07), respectively. Conclusions Long-term exposure to low levels of air pollutants was associated with natural, cardiovascular, respiratory and lung cancer mortality in seven large European cohorts.

Hydrochemical Types of Spring Waters in West Carpathian Catchments (Poland) under Different Pressure of Acidic Deposition

Springs are natural outflows of groundwater to the surface and are often the only places to gain insights into underground processes, especially in protected areas. Contact with rocks changes the parameters of water, especially its chemical composition, which can be easily expressed via hydrochemical typing using the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification. Knowledge of the distribution and chemical compositions of springs is essential for a good hydrological and hydrogeological understanding of a given area. In previous decades, underground water remained mostly uncontaminated, and the ions used in the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification, namely, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO42− and HCO3−, provided accurate descriptions of this water. However, due to anthropogenic activity in the last decades, NO3− and NH4+ ions in shares greater than 20% have been frequently noted in underground and spring water. Research has been conducted in two forested regions: within the Skrzyczne range, which is under pressure from high air pollution coming from the Ostrava and Upper Silesia industrial districts, and in Gorce National Park, which is impacted by low-level air pollution. Water samples were collected three times per year in 2011 and 2012 at various water levels after a spring snow thaw, a period of heavy rain and a dry period. A search for the following ions was conducted: Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, NH4+, HCO3−, SO42−, Cl− and NO3−. Under the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification system, due to the continuous accumulation of nitrogen compounds from air pollution, the shares of nitrates and ammonium ions in underground water and spring water are likely to increase.

The Diurnal Variations of GPS PWV near Poyang Lake in China during Midsummer

With the 1 h-averaged data of atmospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV) for 2015–2018 retrieved from 18 ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) observation stations near Poyang Lake (PL), China, the diurnal variations of the PWV during midsummer (July-August) are studied by the harmonic method. Results show that significant diurnal variations of PWV are found at the 18 GPS stations. The harmonics with 24 h cycle (diurnal cycle) over PL (i.e., Duchang and Poyang) and Nanchang city only have about 50% (or even smaller than 50%) of variance contribution with the amplitude of about 0.2 mm, while above 70% (or even 80%) of variance contribution occurs elsewhere around PL, with the amplitude of about 0.9 mm. The harmonics with diurnal cycles in most stations peak from afternoon to evening (i.e., 1200-2000 LST), but one exception is Duchang site, where the diurnal cycle peaks in the morning (i.e., 1000 LST). Moreover, the harmonics with 12 h cycle (semidiurnal cycle) have the relatively uniform amplitude of about 0.2 mm, but their variance contributions show uneven distribution, with the contributions of about or above 50% in PL and Nanchang city (the semidiurnal cycles peak about 0000 LST or 1200 LST) and below 30% (or even 10%) in other areas. The preliminary diagnosis analysis shows that the diurnal variation of the low-level (below 850 hPa) air temperature (increasing after the sunrise, decreasing after the sunset, and peaking around 1400-1800 LST) may be responsible for the diurnal cycle. Moreover, in PL (Duchang and Poyang) and Nanchang city, the effects (heating or cooling) of lake and urban, the diurnal variation of the 10 m wind over PL, and the acceleration of PL on overlying air also contributed to the diurnal variation of PWV.

Associations of greenness with gestational diabetes mellitus: The Guangdong Registry of Congenital Heart Disease (GRCHD) study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse short- and long-term health outcomes among mothers and their offspring. GDM affects 0.6%–15% of pregnancies worldwide and its incidence is increasing. However, intervention strategies are lacking for GDM. Previous studies indicated a protective association between greenspace and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while few studies have explored the association between greenness and GDM. This study aimed to investigate the association between residential greenness and GDM among women from 40 clinical centers in Guangdong province, south China. The study population comprised 5237 pregnant mothers of fetuses and infants without birth defects, from 2004 to 2016. There were n = 157 diagnosed with GDM according to World Health Organization criteria. We estimated residential greenness using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from satellite imagery using a spatial-statistical model. Associations between greenness during pregnancy and GDM were assessed by confounder-adjusted random effects log-binomial regression models, with participating centers as the random effect. One interquartile increments of NDVI250m, NDVI500m and NDVI1000m were associated with 13% (RR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.87–0.87), 8% (RR = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.91–0.92) and 3% (RR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.97–0.97) lower risks for GDM, respectively. However, NDVI3000m was not significantly associated with GDM (RR = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.78–1.19). The risk for GDM decreased monotonically with greater NDVI. The protective effect of greenness on GDM was stronger among women with lower socioeconomic status and in environments with a lower level air pollutants. Our results suggest that greenness might provide an effective intervention to decrease GDM. Greenness and residential proximity to greenspace should be considered in community planning to improve maternal health outcomes.

Evaluating the Use of Spatiotemporal Aircraft Data for Air Tour Management Planning and Compliance

Examining visitors’ spatiotemporal movement patterns within parks and protected areas (PPAs) has become an informative methodology for management actions and understanding visitor behavior. This work has given managers and researchers a better understanding of visitor spatial behaviors, spatiotemporal resource impacts, and theoretical and organizing frameworks for approaching this type of research. However, few studies have examined the spatial patterns of air traffic, specifically low-level air tours, above PPAs and the resulting impacts to visitors’ experience and the natural soundscapes. This need is particularly relevant in the U.S. due to legislative mandates that the National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have to manage air tours over NPS units. Further, prior studies have shown how air tours negatively impact both visitors’ experience and the natural soundscapes. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of air tours is critical for the managers working with air tour operators and the FAA for planning, ensuring compliance with management decisions, and examining the effects of aircraft noise on PPA resources and the on-the-ground visitors. Recently enacted laws and regulations across the globe, including the U.S., are requiring all aircraft operating in controlled airspace to equip air traffic tracking technology called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out avionics. ADS-B Out broadcasts an unencrypted and publicly accessible signal that relays latitude, longitude, altitude, and unique identification code. In the U.S., this code can then be cross-referenced to a publicly accessible database with information including the type/model of aircraft and the registered owner. Only a single prior study has examined ADS-B data over NPS units, finding both potential and limitations to this new technology for tracking air tours. This study seeks to expand methodological improvements and ADS-B’s potential to inform management actions by exploring ADS-B data at Haleakalā National Park (HALE). This study explores the use of ADS-B data at HALE for monitoring compliance with spatially explicit conditions within a preexisting agreement established between the park and air tour operators. The study identified 321 air tours, compared with 454 air tours reported by operators over the same time period. Compliance with the spatially explicit agreement conditions was generally high, though better for lateral offsets than minimum altitude requirements. Overall, this study advances methodological uses of ADS-B logging to track air tours over PPAs and advances knowledge about the potential utility and current limitations of using ADS-B tracking systems for compliance in PPA contexts. Subscribe to JPRA

Candidate gene expression in response to low-level air pollution

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have linked air pollutant to adverse health effects even at low exposure levels, but limited evidence is available on its associations with gene expression levels. AimTo investigate associations between air pollutants and gene expression levels. MethodsWe collected data from Brisbane System Genetics Study (BSGS) — a family-based system genetics study. Expression levels of candidate genes were obtained for whole blood from 266 pairs of twins (192 monozygotic and 74 dizygotic pairs) and 165 parents. Data on individual phenotypes were also obtained, including age, sex, Body Mass Index and exposure to smoke. Daily data on mean temperature and air pollutants, including particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), were collected from seven monitoring stations for the day when the blood samples were collected. The association between each air pollutant and expression level of each gene was analyzed by using generalized linear models with adjustment for temperature and individual phenotypes, and its difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins was investigated. ResultsThe mean value for daily concentration of air pollutants were 5.9 µg/m3 for PM2.5, 16.3 ppb for O3, 6.5 ppb for NO2, and 1.4 ppb for SO2, respectively. All air pollutants’ levels in Brisbane during our study period were well under the National Air Quality Standard Air pollutant levels. We observed positive associations (false discovery rate [FDR]<0.1) among twins between PM2.5 and expression levels of HSPA8 and SOD1 and also between SO2 and AHR expression level. Negative associations were observed between SO2 and 11 genes among twins, including AHR, DUSP1, GEMIN4, GPX1, KLF2, PTGS2, TLR4, TNF, TNFRSF1B, TXNRD1, and XBP1, with most of them found at lag 0–7 days (FDR < 0.1). Furthermore, the association between SO2 and DUSP1 expression level was stronger among monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins (FDR < 0.1). We did not find strong evidence linking air pollutants to gene expression levels among parents. ConclusionOur findings require confirmation but suggest potential associations of expression levels at several genes with air pollutants at low exposure level and an individual’s genetic background modifies the association between SO2 and DUSP1 gene, which may help bridge the gap of epidemiological studies with both in vivo and in vitro toxicological experiments and provide some insights into the role of nature-nurture of an individual in gene expression response to air pollutants.

How can 30\u201360-day ISO move from the South China Sea to Southern China?

In the present study, the northward-propagating intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) over the South China Sea (SCS) during the summer monsoon season are divided into two types. One is the northward propagation of ISOs confined in the SCS (defined as P1-ISO), another for ISOs moving from the SCS to Southern China (SC) defined as P2-ISO. The spatial and temporal structures of the two types of ISOs are compared based on the analysis of the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis datasets. It is found that a significant difference appears in the heat flux anomalies over SC that is attributed to the cloud-radiation effect. A mechanism associated with the changes in the convective instability is proposed to understand the cause of the northward propagation of the ISO from the SCS to SC. For the P1-ISO, a more precipitation over SC leads to a less surface solar radiation and then a cold land surface temperature (LST), which induces an increase of static stability via surface longwave radiation and sensible heat flux. Whereas the total contribution to the convective instability changes does create an unfavorable for ISOs propagating northward, the moisture convergence, mainly controlled by the baroclinic vorticity advection effect, may contribute to an increase of convective instability that favors the ISOs moving northward. For the P2-ISO, a less precipitation over SC results in a more shortwave radiation reaching the ground that induces a warm LST, and thus leading to a warm low-level air temperature and destabilizing the atmosphere ahead of the convection. Moreover, the moisture convergence, dominated by the warm low-level air temperature, also contributes to the increase of convective instability. Thus the convective instability increment should favor the ISOs moving northward. It is worth noting that the baroclinic vorticity advection and moisture advection are not essential for ISOs propagating from the SCS to SC.

Short-term prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of preterm birth - A population-based cohort study in Finland

BackgroundPrevious studies have provided evidence that prenatal exposure to low-level air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth (PTB), but the findings of the effects of short-term exposure have been inconclusive. Moreover, there is little knowledge on potential synergistic effects of different combinations of air pollutants. ObjectivesTo assess independent and joint effects of prenatal exposure to air pollutants during the week prior to the delivery on the risk of PTB. MethodsThe study population included 2568 members of the Espoo Cohort Study, living in the City of Espoo, Finland, born between 1984 and 1990. We assessed individual-level prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants of interest based on maternal residential addresses, while taking into account their residential mobility. We used both regional-to-city-scale dispersion modelling and land-use regression–based method to estimates the pollutant concentrations. We contrasted the risk of PTB in the highest quartile (Q4) of exposure to the lower exposure quartiles (Q1-Q3) during the specific periods of pregnancy. We applied Poisson regression analysis to estimate the adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for season of birth, maternal age, sex of the baby, family's socioeconomic status, maternal smoking, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during pregnancy, single parenthood, and exposure to other air pollutants (this in multi-pollutant models). ResultsThe risk of PTB was related to exposures to PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 during the week prior to the delivery with adjusted RRs of 1.67 (95%CI: 1.14, 2.46), 1.60 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.34) and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.37), from three-pollutant models respectively. There were no significant joint effects for these different air pollutants (during the week prior to the delivery). ConclusionOur results provide evidence that exposure to fairly low-level air pollution may trigger PTB, but synergistic effects of different pollutants are not likely.

Decline in hospitalization for childhood asthma in different air pollution regions in Taiwan, 2001–2012

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the trends in childhood asthma hospitalization in regions with differing levels of air pollution in Taiwan, 2001–2012. Joinpoint regression was used to identify significant trend changes. The hospitalization rate varied according to gender, geographic region, and age. The incidence of childhood asthma hospitalization decreased from 127.99 to 76.67 (/100,000 population), with an average annual percentage change of around −4.1%; in the Yilan region, the average air pollution concentrations were 19.92 μg/m3, 39.47 μg/m3, 25.99 ppb, 2.19 ppb, and 11.23 ppb for PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, and NO2, respectively, which were lower than Taiwan’s average values; however, the childhood asthma hospitalization rate was the highest (179.75/100,000 population). The national trend in childhood asthma hospitalization exhibited a significant decrease. The effects of air pollution on childhood asthma were greater in the higher-level air pollution regions, while less association was observed in the lower-level air pollution regions.

Calibration of spectrometric detectors for air kerma rates in environmental monitoring

The spectrometric systems, especially based on NaI(Tl) and HPGe detectors, are used for nuclide identification and calculation of their activities from the ground measurements and air-borne monitoring. The determination of the air kerma (dose) rates is also very important for environmental measurements. In such cases, the detectors should be calibrated for air kerma (dose) rates in nGyh?1 or ?Gyh?1. A simple calibration of NaI(Tl), HPGe as well as plastic detectors for the low-level air kerma rates is presented in this contribution. This calibration is based on comparing the relative absorbed energy rate in detectors (MeVs?1) calculated from spectra with the air kerma rates calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation and supplementary to the data from the RSS Reuter&amp;Stokes high pressure ion chamber. This method also eliminates the conversion from the non-air kerma rates in crystals to the air kerma rates. Three different types of small cylindrical detectors were calibrated for the air kerma rates from the background of 26 nGyh?1 to some tens of ?Gyh?1 in the energy range to the maximum of 3 MeV. The results of calibrations of the 3" x 3" NaI(Tl), HPGe detector and a small plastic detector (made of polystyrene) including soxme examples of environmental measurements are presented.

South American Climate during the Early Eocene: Impact of a Narrower Atlantic and Higher Atmospheric CO2

AbstractThe Cenozoic climate of tropical South America was fundamental to the development of its biota, the most biodiverse on Earth. No previous studies have explicitly addressed how the very different atmospheric composition and Atlantic geometry during the early Eocene (approximately 55 million years ago) may have affected South American climate. At that time, the Atlantic Ocean was approximately half of its current width and the CO2 concentration of Earth’s atmosphere ranged from ~550 to ~1500 ppm or even higher. Climate model simulations were performed to examine the effects of these major state changes on the climate of tropical South America. Reducing the width of the Atlantic by approximately half produces significant drying relative to modern climate. Drying is only partly offset by an enhancement of precipitation due to the higher CO2 of the early Eocene. The main mechanism for drier conditions is simple. Low-level air crosses the tropical Atlantic from North Africa in much less time for a narrower Atlantic (2 days) than for the modern Atlantic (~6 days); as a result, much less water is evaporated into the air and thus there is far lower moisture imported to the continent in the Eocene simulation than in the modern control. The progressive wetting (during the mid- to late Cenozoic) of the Amazon due to the widening Atlantic and the rising Andes, only partly offset by decreasing CO2 values, may have been partly responsible for the accumulating biodiversity of this region.

New Health Research on Low-level Ambient Air Pollution

New Health Research on Low-level Ambient Air Pollution

Low-level ambient air pollution exposure and risk of lung cancer – a pooled analysis of 7 European cohorts

PDS 68: Outdoor air pollution, mortality and morbidity, Exhibition Hall (PDS), Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Background/Aim: Ambient air pollution has been associated with lung cancer but the shape of the exposure-response function - especially at lower exposure levels - is not well described. The aim of this study was to address the relationship between long-term low-level air pollution exposure and lung cancer incidence. Methods: The “Effects of low level air pollution: A study in Europe” (ELAPSE) collaboration pools 7 cohorts from across Europe. We developed hybrid models combining monitoring and land use data, satellite observations, and dispersion model estimates for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and ozone (O3) to assign exposure to participants’ residential addresses. We analyzed the pooled data by stratified Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for potential confounders. We developed linear and natural cubic spline models, analyses based on subsets and thresholds across the exposure distribution, and multi-pollutant models to disentangle potential inter-dependencies between pollutants. Results: A total of 307,550 persons were included in the analyses. During a mean follow-up of 18.1 years, 3,956 incident lung cancer cases occurred. Median (5–95%) exposure levels of NO2, PM2.5, BC and O3 (warm season) were 24.2 µg/m3 (12.8–39.5), 15.4 µg/m3 (8.7–19.4), 1.6 10-5/m (0.7–2.1), and 86.6 µg/m3 (70.4–92.9), respectively. We observed a higher risk for lung cancer with higher exposure to PM2.5 (HR 1.13, 95% 1.05-1.23 per 5 µg/m3) after adjustment for covariates. The association was similar across subsets of exposure-levels with no sign of a threshold below which no association was evident. The effect estimate was also robust to the inclusion of co-occurring pollutants. We did not find significantly positive associations between NO2, BC or O3 and lung cancer incidence. Conclusions: Our results indicate that long-term ambient PM2.5 exposure may contribute to lung cancer incidence even at concentrations lower than current EU limit values and WHO Air Quality Guidelines.

Low-level air pollution and natural cause mortality in Rome: comparison of results based on European wide and local land use regression models within the ELAPSE project

PDS 65: Exposure assessment: implications for epidemiology, Exhibition Hall (PDS), Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Background: The multicentre “Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE)” study has been designed to collect data from multiple European cohorts and apply standardized exposure models. Alternative exposure assessment based on local models serves as a comparison. We evaluated associations with mortality of annual average air pollution exposure based both on a Europe-wide hybrid Land Use Regression (EW-LUR) model and on local LUR (L-LUR) models in the Rome Longitudinal Study (RoLS). Methods: We selected >1 million subjects aged 30+ years and followed them up from 2001 to 2015 through record linkage with mortality registries. Annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were centrally modelled within ELAPSE at 100 m spatial resolution (2010). Local LUR models were developed for PM2.5 (ESCAPE, 2010) and for NO2 (2007). We applied Cox proportional hazard models considering age (time axis), sex (strata) and several individual and contextual variables. We evaluated the effects of each pollutant through single and two-pollutant models. Results: We observed 235,543 deaths from natural causes out of 15,300,400 person-years. Average exposures were 16.7 μg/m3 and 32.9 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and NO2, respectively for EW-LUR, and 19.6 μg/m3 and 43.4 μg/m3 for L-LUR. Pairwise correlations (PM2.5 and NO2) were 0.76 in EW-LUR and 0.42 in L-LUR. We found significant associations between PM2.5 and NO2 and mortality for both exposure models, with hazard ratios (HRs) =1.07 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.10) and 1.03 (1.02, 1. 04) for PM2.5 and NO2 from EW-LUR, and 1.02 (1.01, 1.03) and 1.02 (1.02, 1.03) for exposures from L-LUR (per increments of 5 and 10 μg/m3), respectively. PM2.5 estimates decreased and lost significance in two-pollutant models while NO2 estimates were robust to PM2.5 adjustment under both exposure conditions. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to air pollutants (PM2.5, and NO2) was associated with natural mortality using two different exposure models.

Low-level air pollution and incidence of asthma among adults: pooled analysis of 2 European cohorts in the ELAPSE project

TPS 684: Long-term health effects of air pollutants 1, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aims: Air pollution has been linked to asthma onset in adults, yet few studies have investigated the effects of low-level pollution below current EU and WHO limit values or guidelines. Within the multicenter ‘Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe’ (ELAPSE) study, we examined the association of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black carbon (BC), and ozone (O3) with incidence of asthma in European adults. Methods: We pooled data from 2 cohorts from Denmark and Sweden harmonizing individual and area-level variables. Annual mean concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, BC and O3 were centrally modelled for Europe for 2010 by hybrid land use regression models (100 m resolution). We used stratified Cox proportional hazard models to investigate the association between residential pollution (single and multi-pollutant models) and asthma incidence defined as first ever hospital admission, adjusting for sex, smoking (status, duration, intensity), body mass index, marital status, employment, education and income on a neighbourhood level. Results: Of 50,163 persons, 888 developed asthma during the mean follow-up of 15.6 years. The mean concentrations of PM2.5, NO2 and BC were 10.9 μg/m3, 21.7 μg/m3 and 0.98 10-5/m, respectively. Statistically significant associations were found with NO2 and BC with adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs of 1.14 (1.04-1.25) per 10 µg/m3 and 1.15 (1.03-1.28) per 0.5 10-5/m, nonsignificant positive with PM2.5 (1.18; 0.91-1.53) per 5 μg/m3, and none with O3. The NO2 estimate remained unchanged in two-pollutant models with PM2.5, O3, or BC, whereas the BC estimate remained robust in the model with PM2.5 or O3, but attenuated in the model with NO2. The association with PM2.5 attenuated to negative in models with NO2 or BC. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to NO2 and BC was associated with asthma onset in adults, even at levels below current EU limit values.

Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of preeclampsia

TPS 743: Health effects in pregnancy, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: There is a mounting literature on the association between low-level air pollution exposure and the risk for preeclampsia (PE); however, how air pollution affects the health of pregnant women and fetal development is still unknown. Aim To investigate the spatiotemporal associations for the risk of developing PE and to determine the risk thresholds for maternal exposure to ambient black carbon (BC), PM2.5 and PM10 during pregnancy. Methods: Maternal Air Pollution in Southern Sweden (MAPSS) consists of 48777 singleton pregnancies and monthly exposure levels of BC, as well as local and total PM2.5 and PM10 at maternal residential address estimated by Gaussian dispersion modeling in Scania, Sweden during 2000 to 2009. Employing IBM SPSS Statistics version 25, we used binary logistic regression models to estimate the association between particle exposures and total PE, early- and late-onset PE, PE with small-for-gestational age (SGA) and PE without SGA, adjusted for obstetrical risk factors and socioeconomic predictors. Results: The number of PE cases was 2.9%. The effect estimates for each 1 µg/m3 increase of BC on the risk for PE are adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.89 (95% CI 1.34, 2.65) in the first trimester, 2.08 (1.45, 2.98) in the second semester, 1.77 (1.28, 2.45) in the third semester and 2.14 (1.48, 3.09) in whole pregnancy. Similar patterns were observed for each 5 µg/m3 increment in locally emitted PM2.5 and PM10 at all exposure windows. Effect estimates appeared to be more prominent in pregnancies complicated by SGA. Conclusions: There is a significant positive association between maternal exposure to ambient air pollution during gestation and the risk of developing PE with SGA in a setting with low-level air pollution. Lowering the limit values would not only benefit the more vulnerable pregnant woman and their unborn children, but also the population as a whole.

Low-level air pollution and natural cause mortality in Europe

Low-level air pollution and natural cause mortality in Europe

Air pollution and mortality in the Netherlands

PDS 65: Exposure assessment: implications for epidemiology, Exhibition Hall (PDS), Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Background/aim: To assess associations of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with natural-cause mortality, air pollution exposures are generally estimated using either land-use regression (LUR) or dispersion models (DM). Within the Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE) study, we evaluated associations of annual average air pollution concentrations based both on a Europe-wide hybrid LUR model and on a national DM in a Dutch National cohort. Methods: Concentrations of NO2, PM2.5 and Black Carbon (BC) based on European-wide hybrid LUR model and a national DM were linked to the home address of approximately 10.5 million Dutch adults. We used Cox proportional hazard models to investigate associations with natural-cause mortality. Following a harmonised protocol, models were adjusted for individual covariates and several area-level indicators of socio-economic status. Results: We observed 606,527 natural-cause deaths during the 5 year follow-up (2008-2012). We found strong correlations between LUR NO2 and DM NO2 (Pearson R = 0.79), correlations were slightly lower for PM2.5 (Pearson R = 0.69) and BC (Pearson R = 0.72). In fully adjusted models, we found significant associations with both LUR and DM air pollutants, however, hazard rates (HR) differed. For example, we found a HR of 1.03 per 10 µg/m3 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.04) for LUR NO2 and a HR of 1.01 per 10 µg/m3 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02) for DM NO2. In two pollutants models of LUR NO2 and PM2.5, associations remained significant for NO2 only, while in two pollutants models of DM NO2 and PM2.5, associations remained significant for PM2.5 only. Conclusion: We found significant associations of annual average air pollution with natural-cause mortality based both on a Europe-wide hybrid LUR model and on a national DM. Different air pollution exposure assessment methods may lead to somewhat different effect estimates.

Low-level air pollution and incidence of acute coronary events: pooled analysis of 6 European cohorts in the ELAPSE project

Low-level air pollution and incidence of acute coronary events: pooled analysis of 6 European cohorts in the ELAPSE project