Non-linear association between long-term air pollution exposure and risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND@#Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a global epidemic, and air pollution has been identified as a potential risk factor. This study aims to investigate the non-linear relationship between ambient air pollution and MASLD prevalence.@*METHOD@#In this cross-sectional study, participants undergoing health checkups were assessed for three-year average air pollution exposure. MASLD diagnosis required hepatic steatosis with at least 1 out of 5 cardiometabolic criteria. A stepwise approach combining data visualization and regression modeling was used to determine the most appropriate link function between each of the six air pollutants and MASLD. A covariate-adjusted six-pollutant model was constructed accordingly.@*RESULTS@#A total of 131,592 participants were included, with 40.6% met the criteria of MASLD. "Threshold link function," "interaction link function," and "restricted cubic spline (RCS) link functions" best-fitted associations between MASLD and PM2.5, PM10/CO, and O3 /SO2/NO2, respectively. In the six-pollutant model, significant positive associations were observed when pollutant concentrations were over: 34.64 µg/m3 for PM2.5, 57.93 µg/m3 for PM10, 56 µg/m3 for O3, below 643.6 µg/m3 for CO, and within 33 and 48 µg/m3 for NO2. The six-pollutant model using these best-fitted link functions demonstrated superior model fitting compared to exposure-categorized model or linear link function model assuming proportionality of odds.@*CONCLUSION@#Non-linear associations were found between air pollutants and MASLD prevalence. PM2.5, PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 exhibited positive associations with MASLD in specific concentration ranges, highlighting the need to consider non-linear relationships in assessing the impact of air pollution on MASLD.

Causal links between long-term exposure to NO2 and the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To determine the causal association between long-term Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure and the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization. Methods: Based on a sub-cohort of a community-based prospective cohort study, a total of 36 271 participants were recruited from 35 communities randomly selected in Guangzhou in 2015. The annual average exposure of NO2, demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and information on the causes of hospitalization was collected. We applied marginal structural Cox models to investigate the effect of NO2 on cardiovascular hospitalization. Demographic and behavioral factors also stratified results. Results: The mean age of participants in the present study was (50.9±17.8) years, and the cardiovascular admission rate was 8.7%, with 203 822 person-years of follow-up. The annual mean NO2 concentration was 48.7 μg/m3 during 2015-2020. For each 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 concentrations, the HRs (95%CIs) of total cardiovascular hospitalization, cardiovascular hospitalization, and cerebrovascular hospitalization were 1.33 (1.16-1.52), 1.36 (1.16-1.60) and 1.25 (1.00-1.55), respectively. Participants who were never married/married, with secondary education, high exercise frequency, or non-smokers/current smokers may be more susceptible than their counterparts. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to NO2 significantly increased hospitalization risk for cardiovascular disease.

Association of greenness, nitrogen dioxide with the prevalence of hypertension among the elderly over 65 years old in China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To investigate the association of mixed exposure to greenness and nitrogen dioxide(NO2) and hypertension among the older adults aged 65 years and over in China. Methods: The study subjects were from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 2017 to 2018. A total of 15 423 older adults aged 65 years and over meeting the criteria were finally included in the study. A questionnaire survey was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and self-reported prevalence of hypertension. Blood pressure values were obtained through physical examination. The level of normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) was measured by the Medium-resolution Imaging Spectral Radiator(MODIS) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA). The concentration of NO2 was from China's surface air pollutant data set. Meteorological data was from NASA MERRA-2. The exposure to NDVI and NO2 for each study subject was calculated based on the area within a 1 km radius around their residence. The association between mixed exposure of NDVI and NO2 as well as their interaction and hypertension in older adults was analyzed by using the multivariate logistic regression model. The restrictive cubic spline(RCS) function was used to explore the exposure-response relationship between greenness and NO2 and the risk of hypertension in study subjects. Results: The mean age of 15 423 older adults were (85.6±11.6). Women accounted for 56.3%(8 685/15 423) and 55.6%(8 578/15 423) lived in urban areas. The mean time of residence was (60.9±28.5) years. 59.8% of participants were with hypertension. The mean NDVI level was 0.41±0.13, and the mean NO2 concentration was (32.18±10.36) μg/cm3. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NDVI was inversely and linearly associated with the hypertension in older adults, with the OR(95%CI) value of 0.959(0.928-0.992). Compared with the T1 group of NDVI, the risk of hypertension was lower in the T3 group, with the OR(95%CI) value of 0.852(0.769-0.944), and the trend test was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with the T1 group of NO2, the risk of hypertension was higher in the T2 and T3 groups, with OR(95%CI) values of 1.160(1.055-1.275) and 1.244(1.111-1.393), and the trend test was statistically significant (P<0.05). The result of the RCS showed that NDVI was inversely and linearly associated with hypertension in older adults. NO2 was nonlinearly associated with hypertension in older adults. The interaction analysis showed that NDVI and NO2 had a negative multiplicative interaction on the risk of hypertension, with OR(95%CI) value of 0.995(0.992-0.997). Conclusion: Exposure to greenness and NO2 are associated with hypertension in older adults.

Investigation on occupational hazard factors in teaching and research places of a university / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To investigate and monitor the occupational hazards in the Teaching and Research Laboratory (hereinafter referred to as the place) of a university, so as to provide basis for the occupational health work in the university. Methods: November 2014, 46 places in a university were selected by stratified random sampling, and the occupational health risk factors were investigated. Results: Indoor temperature, humidity, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were detected in 21 sites, xylene and hydrofluoric acid were detected in 6 sites, and colony count was detected in 18 sites, the power frequency electric field intensity was measured in 23 places, and the x-ray radiation dose was measured in 4 places. Noise was measured at 21 sites, with 7 sites exceeding the standards accounting for 33.3% (7/21) ; 21 sites were detected for illumination and 10 sites for nonconformity accounting for 47.6% (10/21) ; 10 sites for Microwave Radiation and 3 sites exceeding the standards accounting for 30% (3/10) ; and 25 sites were detected for outdoor air volume and air velocity, the percentage of unqualified was 72% (18/25) in 18 sites, among which the wind velocity was statistically significant in teaching, research and experimental sites (P=0.010) . Conclusion: The occupational hazards in the teaching and research places of a university should be paid attention to, and the engineering protection and personal protection should be strengthened in the experiment.

Association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and the risk of heart failure hospitalization / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To assess the association between short-term exposure level of nitrogen dioxide and the hospitalization risk of heart failure. Methods: Based on China-PEACE Retrospective Heart Failure Study, 117 364 hospitalized patients with heart failure were recruited from 92 hospitals in 62 cities throughout China between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. The daily exposure level of nitrogen dioxide, temperature, and humidity in the same cities during the same period were also collected. We applied the generalized additive model and Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify the lagged effect and cumulative effect of short-term (0-3 days) exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide on the hospitalization risk of heart failure. We further conducted stratified analyses by age, region, and season to identify any difference in the associations between short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure and heart failure among subgroups. Results: The mean age for participants in the analysis was (70.32±12.22) years. The median, minimum and maximum of daily nitrogen dioxide concentration in 62 cities from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 was 26.4 μg/m3, 2.33 μg/m3 and 150.25 μg/m3, respectively. The exposure level of nitrogen dioxide at the same day was associated with the hospitalization risk of heart failure (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.012, 1.031). Significant effects were also observed in the moving average concentrations from lag 0-1 to lag 0-3 day (OR=1.020, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.030; OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.004, 1.028; OR=1.013, 95%CI: 1.001, 1.026). Moreover, all of the associations between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the risk of heart failure hospitalization were statistically significant, with no significant difference in all subgroups stratified by age, region, and season. Conclusion: A higher level of short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide could trigger more hospitalizations with heart failure.

Ambient air pollutants relate to hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Ganzhou, China

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in relatively low-polluted areas in China. METHODS Atmospheric pollutants levels and meteorological data were obtained from January 2016 to December 2020. The medical database including daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ICD10: J44) was derived from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University. The generalized additive model was used to analyze the percentage change with 95% confidence interval in daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in atmospheric pollutants levels. RESULTS In total, occurred 4,980 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions (not including emergency department visits) during 2016-2020. The mean concentrations of daily PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3, and CO were 37.5 μg/m3, 60.1 μg/m3, 18.7 μg/m3, 23.5 μg/m3, 70.0 μg/m3, and 1.2 mg/m3 in Ganzhou. Each 10 µg/m3 increment of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were significantly associated with 2.8% (95%CI: 1.0-4.7), 1.3% (95%CI: 0.3-2.4), 2.8% (95%CI: 0.4-5.4), and 1.5% (95%CI: 0.2-2.7) elevation in daily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions. The estimates of delayed effects of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were observed at lag6, lag6, lag8, lag1, respectively. The health effects of particulate pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) may be independent of other pollutants. The adverse effects of air pollutants were more evident in the warm season (May-Oct) than in the cold season (Nov-Apr). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that elevated concentrations of atmospheric pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3), especially particulate pollutants, can be associated with increased daily count of hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , which may promote further understanding of the potential hazards of relatively low levels of air pollution on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory disorders.

Association between in vitro fertilization success rate and ambient air pollution: a possible explanation of within-year variation of in vitro fertilization success rate

Asociación entre los niveles de NO, NO2, SO2, O3, CH4 en el aire y las tasas de hospitalización del Hospital Adriana Cousiño de Quintero durante los años 2012 al 2018 / Association between levels of NO, NO2, SO2, O3, CH4 in the air and hospitalization rates at Hospital Adriana Cousiño de Quintero during the years 2012 to 2018

En el sector de Quintero, desde los últimos 50 años han existido diversos hitos relacionados con la contaminación medioambiental. Iniciando con la instauración de la termoeléctrica "Ventanas" en 1950, Chilectra en 1958. En el año 1993 el ministerio de Agricultura de Chile declaró a Puchuncaví y Quintero como una "zona saturada de contaminación" por dióxido de azufre (SO2) y material particulado (MP10). En el año 2011, 135 trabajadores del complejo Ventana fallecieron producto del cáncer. Durante el 2014 hubo un derrame de petróleo en la Bahía de Quintero, 2015 un informe del Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP) arrojó cifras de arsénico que superan 23 veces la norma establecida por el Código Sanitario de Alimentos. Frente a dicho escenario, se hace evidente la necesidad de comprender cómo es la situación de los pobladores de dichas comunas. La presente investigación busca asociar los niveles de contaminación de las comuna de Quintero y el número de hospitalizaciones durante los años 2012 hasta el 2018.

In Quintero, since the last 50 years there have been various milestones related to environmental pollution. Starting with the installation of the "Ventanas" thermoelectric plant in 1950, Chilectra in 1958. In 1993, the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture declared Puchuncaví and Quintero as a "zone saturated with contamination" by sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (MP10). In 2011, 135 workers at the Ventana complex died of cancer. During 2014 an oil spill emerged in Quintero Bay, 2015 a report by the Institute for Fisheries Development (IFOP) showed arsenic figures that exceed 23 times the norm established by the Sanitary Food Code. Faced with this scenario, the need to understand what the situation of the residents of said communes is like is evident. The present investigation seeks to associate the levels of contamination of the commun of Quintero and the number of hospitalizations during the years 2012 to 2018.

Informe especial: Contaminación del aire: CABA 2010-2018 / Special report: Air pollution: CABA 2010-2018

informe realizado por los equipos de trabajo que pertenecen a Salud Ambiental, Agencia de Protección Ambiental y Gerencia Operativa de Epidemiología, del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. En el presente informe se analizan una serie de indicadores que permiten observar los valores de contaminantes criterio: Material Particulado en suspensión menor a 10 micrones (PM 10), Monóxido de Carbono (CO) y Dióxido de Nitrógeno (NO2), registrados en las estaciones de Monitoreo de Calidad del Aire que posee la Ciudad (La Boca, Parque Centenario y Córdoba), las cuales registran las concentraciones de estos contaminantes en forma continua (durante 24 horas, los 365 días del año), mediante métodos homologados internacionalmente. El periodo registrado abarca los años 2010 hasta el año 2018 completo. (AU)

Is Long-term Ambient Air Pollutant Exposure a Risk Factor for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children? A 12-year Longitudinal Cohort Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies suggest that air pollution may play a role in gastrointestinal disorders. However, the effect of long-term exposure to air pollution on childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unclear. Hence, we conducted a nationwide cohort study to investigate the association between long-term air pollution exposure and the incidence and risk of IBS in Taiwanese children during 2000–2012. METHODS: We collected data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, linked to the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database according to the insurant living area and the air quality-monitoring station locations. Children < 18 years old, identified from January 1st, 2000, were followed-up until IBS diagnosis or December 31st, 2012. The daily average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into 4 quartile-based groups (Q1–Q4). We measured the incidence rate, hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals for IBS stratified by the quartiles of air pollutant concentration. RESULTS: A total of 3537 children (1.39%) were diagnosed with IBS within the cohort during the follow-up period. The incidence rate for IBS increased from 0.84 to 1.76, from 0.73 to 1.68, from 0.85 to 1.98, and from 0.52 to 3.22 per 1000 person-years, with increase in the carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbon, and methane quartile (from Q1 to Q4) exposure concentration, respectively. The adjusted HR for IBS increased with elevated carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbon, and methane exposure in Q4 to 1.98, 2.14, 2.19, and 5.87, respectively, compared with Q1. CONCLUSION: Long-term ambient air pollutant exposure is an environmental risk factor for childhood IBS.

Association between gaseous pollutants and emergency ambulance dispatches for asthma in Chengdu, China: a time-stratified case-crossover study

OBJECTIVES@#The association between concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O), and emergency ambulance dispatches (EADs) for asthma was explored in the central Sichuan Basin of southwestern China for the first time.@*METHODS@#EADs for asthma were collected from the Chengdu First-Aid Command Center. Pollutant concentrations were collected from 24 municipal environmental monitoring centers and including SO, NO, CO, daily 8-h mean concentrations of O (O-8 h), and particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM). The climatic data were collected from the Chengdu Municipal Meteorological Bureau. All data were collected from years spanning 2013-2017. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to analyze the data.@*RESULTS@#After controlling for temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure, IQR increases in SO (13 μg/m), NO (17 μg/m), and CO (498 μg/m) were associated with 18.8%, 11.5%, and 3.1% increases in EADs for asthma, respectively. The associations were strongest for EADs and SO, NO, and CO levels with 3-, 5-, and 1-day lags, respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study provides additional data to the limited body of literature for potential health risks arising from ambient gaseous pollutants. The results of the study suggest that increased concentrations of SO, NO, and CO were positively associated with emergency ambulance dispatches for asthma in Chengdu, China. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of individual air pollutants on asthma.

The Effects of Air Pollutants on the Prevalence of Common Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases in South Korea: A National Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVES: The effects of air pollutants on upper airway disease development have been seldom studied. In this study, we evaluated the effects of air pollution on the prevalence of ENT diseases. METHODS: We identified cases of ENT disease occurring in 2009, as recorded by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and explored their associations with the levels of five air pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM₁₀ particles; particulates ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter). Subjects diagnosed with at least one of the five studied ENT diseases were included in analysis, but those aged under 19 years were excluded. Linear associations between ENT disease frequency and pollutant levels were evaluated by calculating Spearman correlations. After adjusting for age, gender, and geographic region, multivariate logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: A total of 7,399 subjects with ENT diseases were identified. A linear association was evident between PM₁₀ concentration and the frequency of septal deviation (Spearman coefficient, 0.507; P=0.045). After adjustment, the PM₁₀ level was associated with high odds ratios for chronic rhinosinusitis (1.22; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.46) and septal deviation (1.43; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.67). Both of these conditions were more prevalent in males. CONCLUSION: We found that increased ambient concentrations of PM₁₀ particles were clearly associated with increased the risk of chronic rhinosinusitis and septal deviation; the exposure-response relationship was definitive.

Current State of Research on the Risk of Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Air Pollution in Korea

PURPOSE: The effects of air pollution on health can vary regionally. Our goal was to comprehensively review previous epidemiological studies on air pollution and health conducted in Korea to identify future areas of potential study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically searched all published epidemiologic studies examining the association between air pollution and occurrence of death, diseases, or symptoms in Korea. After classifying health outcomes into mortality, morbidity, and health impact, we summarized the relationship between individual air pollutants and health outcomes. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 27 studies that provided 104 estimates of the quantitative association between risk of mortality and exposure to air pollutants, including particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide in Korea between January 1999 and July 2018. Regarding the association with morbidity, there were 38 studies, with 98 estimates, conducted during the same period. Most studies examined the short-term effects of air pollution using a time series or case-crossover study design; only three cohort studies that examined long-term effects were found. There were four health impact studies that calculated the attributable number of deaths or disability-adjusted life years due to air pollution. CONCLUSION: There have been many epidemiologic studies in Korea regarding air pollution and health. However, the present review shows that additional studies, especially cohort and experimental studies, are needed to provide more robust and accurate evidence that can be used to promote evidence-based policymaking.

Impact of environmental pollution on the ocular surface of Sjögren's syndrome patients / Impacto da poluição ambiental na superfície ocular de pacientes com síndrome de Sjögren

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effect of air pollution on the ocular surface of patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Methods: We investigated the ocular surfaces of thirty patients with Sjögren's syndrome and thirty healthy volunteers (control group) living in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. We used nitrogen dioxide as an indicator of exposure to air pollution. An ocular symptoms questionnaire was answered by all subjects, who also underwent a complete ocular surface ophthalmic examination-including an Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, biomicroscopy, tear breakup time, Schirmer 1 test, corneal and conjunctival vital staining with fluorescein and lissamine green, tear lysozyme concentration, and impression cytology. Results: In almost all ocular surface test findings, we found a positive and significant correlation between higher levels of exposure to air pollution and higher levels of ocular surface damage in both the control group and Sjögren's syndrome patients. In Sjögren's syndrome patients, the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear breakup time, vital staining and impression cytology showed a significant correlation between high levels of air pollution and ocular surface disease. In the control group, the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear breakup time, and impression cytology showed a significant correlation between high levels of air pollution and ocular surface disease. Conclusions: Here we demonstrated that in patients with dry eye syndrome associated with Sjögren, abnormalities of the ocular surface and eye irritation related to air pollution are more severe than those in the control group. We believe that measuring air quality should be not only an integral part of the evaluation of ocular surface disease but also a therapeutic consideration.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da poluição do ar na superfície ocular de pacientes com síndrome de Sjögren. Métodos: Foram investigadas as superfícies oculares de trinta pacientes com síndrome de Sjögren e trinta voluntários saudáveis (grupo controle) residentes na Região Metropolitana de Buenos Aires. Usamos o dióxido de nitrogênio como um indicador de exposição à poluição do ar. Um questionário de sintomas oculares foi respondido por todos os indivíduos, que também foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico completo da superfície ocular - incluindo um questionário do Índice da Doença da Superfície Ocular, biomicroscopia, tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, teste de Schirmer 1, coloração da córnea e conjuntiva com fluoresceína e lissamina verde, concentração de lisozima lacrimal e citologia de impressão. Resultados: Em quase todos os achados do teste de superfície ocular, encontramos uma correlação positiva e significativa entre níveis mais altos de exposição à poluição do ar e níveis mais elevados de danos na superfície ocular tanto no grupo controle quanto nos pacientes com síndrome de Sjögren. Em pacientes com síndrome de Sjögren, o questionário do Índice da Doença da Superfície Ocular, tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, coloração vital e citologia de impressão mostraram uma correlação significativa entre altos níveis de poluição do ar e doença da superfície ocular. No grupo controle, o questionário do Índice de Doenças da Superfície Ocular, tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal e citologia de impressão mostraram uma correlação significativa entre altos níveis de poluição do ar e doença da superfície ocular. Conclusões: Aqui demonstramos que, pacientes com síndrome de olho seco associada a Sjögren, as anormalidades da superfície ocular e a irritação ocular relacionadas à poluição do ar são mais graves do que aquelas no grupo controle. Acreditamos que a medição da qualidade do ar não deve ser apenas uma parte integral da avaliação da doença da superfície ocular, mas também uma consideração terapêutica.

Exposure to NO2 and children hospitalization due to respiratory diseases in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil / Exposição ao NO2 e internações por doenças respiratórias em crianças em Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

Abstract The effects of exposure to air pollutants on human health are mainly reflected in respiratory diseases in children and elderly ones. An ecological time series study was carried out in Ribeirão Preto/SP data to examine the role of exposure to air pollutants and hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases in children under 10 years old. The study period was between January, 2011 and December, 2013. Particulate Matter (PM10), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), temperature and air relative humidity, were analyzed to estimate the association with hospital admissions using a generalized linear model of Poisson's regression with lags of zero up to seven days after exposure to pollutants, adjusted by the day of the week, seasonality and effective temperature. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05. NO2, when analyzed in single pollutant model shown to be significant at lag 2 and 3 and when analyzed in the multi-pollutant model it shown to be significant at lags 2 up to 5, and lag 7 with relative risk between 1.05 and 1.09 per 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 concentration, with an excess of 150 hospital admission and substantial increase in costs to Public Health System. The data enable the local health managers can take action to minimize these effects.

Resumo Os efeitos da exposição aos poluentes do ar sobre a saúde humana são principalmente refletidos nas doenças respiratórias, em crianças e idosos. Este estudo, do tipo ecológico de séries temporais, foi realizado em Ribeirão Preto/SP para examinar o papel da exposição a poluentes do ar e internações hospitalares por doenças respiratórias em crianças de até 10 anos de idade. O período de estudo foi entre 01.01.2011 e 31.12.2013. Material partículado (PM10), dióxido de nitrogênio (NO2) e ozônio (O3), temperatura e umidade relativa do ar foram analisadas para estimar a associação com internações hospitalares usando um modelo linear generalizado da regressão de Poisson com defasagens de zero até sete dias após a exposição, ajustado pelo dia da semana, sazonalidade e temperatura efetiva. Foi adotado alfa = 0,05. NO2 quando analisado no modelo unipoluente mostrou significância nos lags 2 e 3 e quando avaliado no modelo multi-poluente foi significativo nos lags 2 até 5, e lag 7, com risco relativo entre 1,05 e 1,09 por 10 μg/m3 de aumento em sua concentração, com excesso de 150 internações e aumento substancial dos custos para o sistema de saúde pública. Os dados permitem que o gestor local de saúde possa tomar medidas para minimizar estes efeitos.

Reordenamiento vehicular y contaminación ambiental por material particulado (2,5 y 10), dióxido de azufre y dióxido de nitrógeno en Lima Metropolitana, Perú / Traffic regulation and environmental pollution by particulate material (2.5 and 10), sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide in Metropolitan Lima, Peru

RESUMEN Objetivos. Evaluar el cambio en los niveles ambientales de material particulado (2,5 y 10) (PM2,5 y PM10), dióxido de azufre (SO2) y dióxido de nitrógeno (NO2), posterior al reordenamiento vehicular en la avenida Abancay, entre 2013-2015 respecto a 2007-2009, comparando con otras dos avenidas sin implementación de un reordenamiento, la avenida Guillermo de La Fuente en el distrito de Comas y la avenida César Vallejo en el distrito de El Agustino. Materiales y métodos. Los datos ambientales fueron colectados por tres monitores de Dirección General de Salud Ambiental e Inocuidad Alimentaria del Ministerio de Salud como parte de la red de Vigilancia de la calidad del aire de la ciudad de Lima. El coeficiente beta de la regresión lineal permitió evaluar el cambio en la concentración de cada contaminante. Resultados. El reordenamiento de la Av. Abancay redujo 62% los niveles de PM2,5; 55% los niveles de PM10; 65% los niveles NO2; y 82% los de SO2. En las otras dos avenidas evaluadas no se observó disminución. Una reducción significativa de PM 2,5 (β: -53,11 μg/m3; IC 95%: -63,92 a -42,30), PM10 (β: -47,95 μg/m3; IC 95%: -62,61 a -33,37), NO2 (β:-41,71 μg/m3, IC 95%: -48,18 a -35,23) y SO2 (β: -28,59 μg/m3; IC 95%: -35,23 a -21,95) fueron observados en la Av. Abancay, respecto a las otras dos avenidas, posterior al reordenamiento vehicular. Conclusiones. El reordenamiento vehicular puede contribuir con la disminución continua de diversos contaminantes ambientales. La extensión de esta medida podría mejoraría la calidad de aire y estado de salud de la población residente en la ciudad de Lima.

Objective. To assess the change in environmental levels of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2, after the application of a traffic regulation plan in Abancay Avenue between the years 2013-2015 vs. to 2007-2009, and comparing it against two other avenues, in which no traffic regulation was implemented: Guillermo de La Fuente Avenue in the district of Comas and Cesar Vallejo Avenue in El Agustino. Materials and Methods. Environmental data were collected by three air monitors from the Ministry of Health's Environmental Health and Food Safety General Directorate (Dirección General de Salud Ambiental e Inocuidad Alimentaria) that are part of the Air Quality Surveillance network of the city of Lima. The beta coefficient of the linear regression allowed to assess change in the concentration of each pollutant. Results. The traffic regulation plan of Abancay Av. reduced the levels of PM2.5 by 62%; 55% for PM10 levels; 65% for the NO2 levels, and 82% for the SO2 levels. In the other two avenues assess, this reduction was not observed. A significant reduction in PM2.5 (β: -53.11 μg/m3; 95% CI: -63.92 to -42.30), PM10 (β: -47.99 μg/m3; 95% CI: -62.61 to -33.37), NO2 (β: -41.71 μg/m3; 95% CI: -48.18 to -35.23), and SO2 (β: -28.59 μg/m3; 95% CI: -35.23 to -21.95) was observed in Abancay Av., with respect to the other two avenues, after the traffic regulation plan was implemented. Conclusions. Traffic regulation can contribute to the continuous reduction of different air pollutants. The expansion of this measure could improve air quality and the health status of the residents of Lima.

Residential NO₂ exposure is associated with urgent healthcare use in a thunderstorm asthma cohort

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in allergic airway diseases. Few studies investigate the relationship between TRAP exposure and acute exacerbations of asthma. OBJECTIVE: The 2016 Melbourne thunderstorm asthma epidemic provided an opportunity to investigate the relationship between proxies of TRAP exposure and asthma exacerbation requiring urgent healthcare in the previous 12 months. METHODS: Current asthmatics who presented to the 3 Emergency Departments of Melbourne's second-largest health service with epidemic thunderstorm asthma in November 2016 were identified and completed a standard questionnaire. Their residential addresses were geocoded and the annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure for each patient was assigned using a validated satellite-based land use regression model. Residential distance to the nearest major road was calculated using ArcGIS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between each TRAP proxy and healthcare use, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: From 263 thunderstorm asthma patients, 88 patients identified with current asthma were analysed. Those with higher mean annual residential NO2 exposure had greater odds of urgent healthcare use in the previous year (odds ratio [OR], 3.45 per one interquartile-range increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–9.10; p = 0.01), however distance from major road (OR, 0.95 per 100-m increase; 95% CI, 0.80–1.13; p = 0.57) and living < 200 m from a major road (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.29–7.45; p = 0.64) were not significantly associated. CONCLUSION: In current asthmatics who presented during an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, greater exposure to residential NO2 was significantly associated with greater odds of asthma exacerbations requiring urgent healthcare in the previous 12 months.

Short-term Effect of Ambient Air Pollution on Emergency Department Visits for Diabetic Coma in Seoul, Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: A positive association between air pollution and both the incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has been reported in some epidemiologic and animal studies, but little research has evaluated the relationship between air pollution and diabetic coma. Diabetic coma is an acute complication of DM caused by diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, which is characterized by extreme hyperglycemia accompanied by coma. We conducted a time-series study with a generalized additive model using a distributed-lag non-linear model to assess the association between ambient air pollution (particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter, nitrogen dioxide [NO2], sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone) and emergency department (ED) visits for DM with coma in Seoul, Korea from 2005 to 2009. METHODS: The ED data and medical records from the 3 years previous to each diabetic coma event were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to examine the relationship with air pollutants. RESULTS: Overall, the adjusted relative risks (RRs) for an interquartile range (IQR) increment of NO2 was statistically significant at lag 1 (RR, 1.125; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.039 to 1.219) in a single-lag model and both lag 0-1 (RR, 1.120; 95% CI, 1.028 to 1.219) and lag 0-3 (RR, 1.092; 95% CI, 1.005 to 1.186) in a cumulative-lag model. In a subgroup analysis, significant positive RRs were found for females for per-IQR increments of NO2 at cumulative lag 0-3 (RR, 1.149; 95% CI, 1.022 to 1.291). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that ambient air pollution, specifically NO2, is associated with ED visits for diabetic coma.

Ambient air quality and subjective stress level using Community Health Survey data in Korea / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Air pollution causes various disease in exposed populations, and can lead to premorbid health effects manifested as both physical and psychological functional impairment. The present study investigated the subjective stress level in daily life in relation to the level of air pollution. METHODS: Data from the Community Health Survey (2013), comprising 99,162 men, and 121,273 women residing in 253 healthcare administrative districts, were combined with air pollutant concentration modelling data from the Korean Air Quality Forecasting System, and were stratified by subjective stress levels into five strata for multiple logistic regression. Levels of exposure were divided into five quintiles according to the annual concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and were analyzed using a single-pollutant model using NO2 concentration only, and a multi-pollutant model adjusted for the concentration of particulate matter < 10 µm in diameter. RESULTS: Analysis of men and women in various age groups showed the highest odds ratio (OR) for subjective stress level at the highest NO2 concentration quintile in men and women aged 30–64 years (men: 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.12 to 4.01; women: 1.82; 95% CI, 1.32 to 2.51). As the NO2 concentration quintile increased, the OR increased. Men showed higher ORs than women in all strata. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, annual NO2 concentrations were found to be associated with subjective stress levels. This association was especially clear among socioeconomically active men and women aged 30–64 years.

Association between exposure to ambient air pollution and renal function in Korean adults

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution has a negative effect on many diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Recent studies have reported a relationship between air pollution and renal function, but the results were limited to exposure to particulate matter (PM). This study was to identify associations between various air pollutants and renal function among Korean adults. METHODS: Nationwide survey data for a total of 24,407 adults were analyzed. We calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for each individual to assess their renal function and used this to categorize those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To evaluate exposure to ambient air pollution, we used the annual mean concentrations of four ambient air pollutants: PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). RESULTS: We identified significant inverse relationships between the air pollutants PM10 and NO2 and eGFR in all statistical adjustment models (all p  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposures to PM10 and NO2 were significantly associated with decreases in eGFR levels, but not CKD, in Korean adults.