Short-term effect of relatively low level air pollution on outpatient visit in Shennongjia, China. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chenchen; Liu, Yuewei; Zhou, Yide; Feng, Anhui; Wang, Chunhong; Shi, Tingming
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 245(2019)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Air pollutant -- Outpatient visit -- Low level -- Shennongjia -- Generalized additive model; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Many cities in China are currently experiencing severe air pollution due to modernization. Previous studies investigating the effects of air pollutants exposure were particularly conducted in severe air polluted area and studies in low pollution areas were sparse. Methods: To quantitatively assess the short-term effects of ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O3 ) on outpatient visits in low pollution area, we conducted a time-series analysis from Jan 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2016 in Shennongjia, China. Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to evaluate the influence of PM2.5 on daily hospital outpatient visits with different lag structures. We also conducted stratified analysis to explore the association between PM2.5 concentration and outpatient visits in different seasons. Results: In the present study, per IQR increment of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO and O3 were related with 1.92% (0.76%–3.09%), 1.92% (0.77%–3.07%), 2.74% (95% CI: 1.65%–3.83%), 1.89% (95% CI: 0.68%–3.10%) and 2.30% (95% CI: 0.65%–3.95%) increase on respiratory outpatient visits. Significant associations were found between PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and respiratory outpatient visits at lag0:1, lag0:2 days. The effects of PM2.5 were more evident in the cool season than in the warm season. Conclusions: Our study showed that short-term exposures to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO and O3 were related with increased risk of outpatient visits of respiratory diseases, and highlighted the adverse effect of air pollutants exposure, especially PM2.5 exposure in cool season on health in low pollution area. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Rare attention was paid to low pollution areas in China. We conducted a research in Shennongjia, an area with low level air pollution in China. Air pollutants exposure may increase the number of respiratory outpatient visits. The prevention of low level air pollution in China is urgent and necessary.