Spatiotemporal analysis for the effect of ambient particulate matter on cause-specific respiratory mortality in Beijing, China

Abstract

This study explored the association between particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10) and the cause-specific respiratory mortality. We used the ordinary kriging method to estimate the spatial characteristics of ambient PM10 at 1-km × 1-km resolution across Beijing during 2008-2009 and subsequently fit the exposure-response relationship between the estimated PM10 and the mortality due to total respiratory disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia at the street or township area levels using the generalized additive mixed model (GAMM). We also examined the effects of age, gender, and season in the stratified analysis. The effects of ambient PM10 on the cause-specific respiratory mortality were the strongest at lag0-5 except for pneumonia, and an inter-quantile range increase in PM10 was associated with an 8.04 % (95 % CI 4.00, 12.63) increase in mortality for total respiratory disease, a 6.63 % (95 % CI 1.65, 11.86) increase for chronic lower respiratory disease, and a 5.68 % (95 % CI 0.54, 11.09) increase for COPD, respectively. Higher risks due to the PM10 exposure were observed for females and elderly individuals. Seasonal stratification analysis showed that the effects of PM10 on mortality due to pneumonia were stronger during spring and autumn. While for COPD, the effect of PM10 in winter was statistically significant (15.54 %, 95 % CI 5.64, 26.35) and the greatest among the seasons. The GAMM model evaluated stronger associations between concentration of PM10. There were significant associations between PM10 and mortality due to respiratory disease at the street or township area levels. The GAMM model using high-resolution PM10 could better capture the association between PM10 and respiratory mortality. Gender, age, and season also acted as effect modifiers for the relationship between PM10 and respiratory mortality.

Developing a Hierarchical Model for the Spatial Analysis of PM10 Pollution Extremes in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

“…Increases in industry and urban traffic due to economic and population growth have led to an increase in gas and particulate emission that contribute to air pollution [ 2 ]. Among air pollutants, fine inhalable particles, known as particulate matter (PM) are associated with respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases [ 3 ]. PM can be classified by size; particles of 10 m or less in diameter are called .…”

Relationship between Annual Average Concentration of Ambient PM10 and Out-patients with Respiratory Disease: Thailand Case Study

“…High levels of PM10 were also strongly associated with wheezing symptoms; respiratory symptoms were found to have a statistically significant positive association with airborne PM10 levels [5], and a strong statistical significant positive association was observed between PM10 levels and the prevalence of lower respiratory tract symptoms [6]. The effects of ambient PM10 on cause-specific respiratory disease mortality were strongest for pneumonia and increase in PM10 was associated with increase in mortality for total respiratory disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [7].…”

“…This does not imply that the ratio of the annual average concentration of ambient PM10 directly influences the relative risk of out-patients with respiratory disease and other variables likely to be involved. Various factors such as composition of particles, population characteristic and other air pollutants are influencing human respiratory disease [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Thus, the ratio of the annual average concentration of PM10 ratio to the relative risk of out-patients with respiratory disease was calculated based on the assumption that all confounders affected respiratory disease were ignored.…”

“…Therefore, about 10 % and 3 % of outpatients with respiratory disease in those who exposed to annual average concentration of ambient PM10 higher than 30 µg m -3 and 40 µg m -3 attributable to their exposure. To understand the reason why, the attributable proportion of the annual average concentration of ambient PM10 higher than 30 µg m -3 (10 %) is higher than that of 40 µg m -3 (3 %) there might be from annual average concentration of ambient PM10 in the air higher than 40 µg m -3 is more polluted than that of 30 µg m -3 , thus confounding variables that can affect human respiratory system, such as other air pollutants and composition of particles might play an important role in addition to population characteristic [2][3][4][5][6][7][8], and further study of ambient PM10 concentration and respiratory health effect is necessary for a better understanding of the public health impact of ambient PM10 concentration.…”

“…For long-term exposure to ambient PM10, the annual mortality of adults would increase resulting from increase in annual concentration of PM10. The average lifespan of residents would be prolonged, and premature deaths avoided if the annual PM10 concentration were reduced to below 20 µg m -3 , the WHO guideline value [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Prolonged exposure to particulate pollution increase risks of chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease [3].…”