RESUMEN
Background and Objectives@#Fire events emit pollutants that affect both air quality and respiratory health. This paper analyzed the interrelationship of satellite-derived fire spot density and annual average particulate matter (PM₂.₅) concentrations with the incidence of respiratory diseases. @*Methodology@#Monthly cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and pertussis for 2017-2018 in all 17 regions of the Philippines were accessed from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau. Reported cases per 100,000 population in the Philippines were linked with regional fire spot density and annual mean PM₂.₅ estimates from satellite data, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) active fire data, and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), respectively. Linear, logistic, and Poisson models were used to analyze the association between the exposure and outcome variables. @*Results and Discussion@#The highest PM₂.₅ concentrations were observed in Regions IV-A and NCR but fire spot density was relatively lower. High PM₂.₅ levels can be due to other sources in these largely urbanized regions, such as vehicular emission, among others. Similarly, results showed inconclusive association between atmospheric parameters and incidence of ILI and pertussis. Among the variables, pertussis and PM₂.₅ may have the strongest association, albeit p>0.05. Other factors contributing to the increase of disease counts may be explored including vaccine rates and case reporting. @*Conclusion@#There is insufficient evidence to show that fire events and higher PM₂.₅ levels at a regional scale increased the risk for ILI and pertussis in 2017-2018. Further studies may be explored on how satellite-derived atmospheric data can be utilized in respiratory health studies.
Asunto(s)
Tos FerinaRESUMEN
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the natural radioactivity and radiological health impact of thirty-eight (38) samples of soil, food and water in Fashina village, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria using portable survey meter with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and well-calibrated NaI(Tl) detector system The mean exposure rates in the study area were 0.14 µSv hr-1 and 0.12 µSv hr-1 in soil/food and water samples respectively. The mean radioactivity content obtained for 238U, 232Th and 40K were 12.14 ± 4.17Bq kg-1, 23.23 ± 7.67 Bq kg-1 and 270.14 ± 61.79Bq kg-1 respectively in soil samples and 8.56 ± 2.80Bq kg-1, 13.17 ± 4.48Bq kg-1 and 89.41 ± 24.15Bq L-1 respectively for 238U, 232Th and 40K in water samples. The mean values of 30.91, 15.64 and 12.47 nGy h-1 were obtained for the absorbed dose rate in soil, food and water, respectively, while 37.90, 178.79 and 1085.23 µSv y-1 were obtained for the Annual Effective Doses (AED). Similarly, the Radium equivalent (Raeq) were 66.16 Bq kg-1, 34.28Bq kg-1 and 27.31BqL-1, in soil, food and water, respectively. The external and internal radiation hazard indices were 0.18 and 0.21, 0.09 and 0.12, 0.07 and 0.09, respectively for soil, food and water. The values obtained for the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) in (x 10-3) were also 0.13, 0.63 and 3.80 for the soil, food and water samples, respectively. It was found that the values of some exposure rate, radioactivity contents and radiological impact parameters in the study area which were higher than those of the control area and the world average values poses a serious health risk to the environment and its inhabitants