Association between PM2.5 and primary care visits due to asthma attack in Japan: relation to Beijing’s air pollution episode in January 2013

Abstract

Aim In January 2013, extremely high concentrations of fine particles (PM 2.5 ) were observed around Beijing, China. In Japan, the health effects of transboundary air pollution have been a matter of concern. We examined the association between the levels of outdoor PM 2.5 and other air pollutants with primary care visits (PCVs) at night due to asthma attack in Himeji City, western Japan. Methods A case-crossover study was conducted in a primary care clinic in Himeji City, Japan, involving 112 subjects aged 0-80 years who visited the clinic due to an asthma attack between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the period January-March, 2013. Daily concentrations of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and some meteorological elements were measured, and a conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of PCVs per unit increment in air pollutants or meteorological elements. Results Of the 112 subjects, 76 (68 %) were aged \15 years. We did not note any association between daily PM 2.5 levels and PCVs due to asthma attack at night. A positive relation between ozone and PCVs due to asthma attack was detected. The OR per 10 ppb increment in daily mean ozone the day before the visit was 2.31 (95 % confidence interval 1.16-4.61). Conclusion These findings do not support an association between daily mean concentration of PM 2.5 and PCVs at night. However, we did find evidence suggesting that ozone is associated with PCVs.

Exposure to air pollution and meteorological factors associated with children’s primary care visits at night due to asthma attack: case-crossover design for 3-year pooled patients

“…In addition, the results of another previous study conducted when extremely high concentrations of PM 2.5 were observed around Beijing, China (3-month analysis) suggested that ozone on the day before PCVs was positively associated with PCVs in winter. 21 Our findings in the present 3-year analysis supported these previous 3-month results. Further, we also detected the association between PCVs and ozone levels on the day before in spring, when the concentrations of ozone were the highest.…”

“…While we did note an association between single-day PM 2.5 levels on the day before a PCV and PCVs in winter, it was a weak one, observed only in the multipollutant model. The findings in our previous study, 21 which was restricted to cases from January until March 2013, did not support any association between the daily mean concentration of PM 2.5 and PCVs at night due to asthma attack.…”

“… 17 In addition, at the beginning of 2013, extremely high concentrations of PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) were observed around Beijing, China. 21 In Japan as well, the health effects of transboundary air pollution have been a matter of concern. We previously examined the association between PM 2.5 and PCVs at night from January until March 2013 (3-month analysis).…”

The Effect of Seasonal Variations in Airborne Particulate Matter on Asthma-Related Airway Inflammation in Mice

“…Air pollution, including particulate matter (PM), is now the third leading global cause of disability-adjusted life years that are associated with health disorders [ 1 ]. Several studies have demonstrated that PM exposure is associated with exacerbated asthma and increased primary care visits, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular mortality, and lung cancer [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Furthermore, other studies have demonstrated that PM is associated with respiratory diseases [ 9 , 10 ] and cardiopulmonary mortality [ 11 ].…”

Removal Efficiency of Bimodal PM2.5 and PM10 by Electret Respirators and Mechanical Engine Intake Filters

“…High level of PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollutions not only frequently impact China but also transport to its surrounding countries, Japan and Korea as well as North America, during fall and spring when the Westerlies pick up (Kim and Kim, 2003;Mori et al, 2003;Chin et al, 2007;Shimadera et al, 2014;Yamazaki et al, 2014;Vellingiri et al, 2015). For example, during a dust storm event in 2001, there was an extremely high PM 10 concentration at the upstream Beijing with 1000 µg m -3 and that of the downstream Yamaguchi, Japan, was 200 µg m -3 .…”