Impacto de la contaminación del aire por PM10 sobre la mortalidad diaria en Temuco / Impact of air pollution by fine particulate matter (PM10) on daily mortality in Temuco, Chile

Background: Temuco (304,000 inhabitants) has high levels of air pollution, mainly due to fine particulate matter of less than 10 µm (PM10). The effects of this pollution on population health have not been studied. Aim: To study the short-term effects of PM10 on daily mortality in Temuco, in Southern Chile, due to respiratory and cardiovascular causes. Material and methods: We followed the APHEA methodology (Air Pollution and Health European Approach) by estimating poisson multivariate regression models and controlling by trends, seasonality and meteorology. The PM10 variable was introduced after controlling by the confounders and checking by statistical adjustment and autocorrelation of errors. Mortality data was obtained from the Ministry of Health, registering age, gender, place of residence and cause of death. Cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular deaths, occurring between 1997 and 2002, were recorded for this study. Results: There was a significant and positive association between PM10 concentration and daily mortality caused by respiratory disease (p-value=0.046, relative risk (RR) 1.236, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.004-1.522) and cardiovascular diseases in people aged 65 years and more (p-value=0.042; RR 1.176 95% CI 1.006-1.374). Conclusions: There is a significant association between daily air pollution by PM10 particulate matter and mortality in Temuco, Chile.

Mortalidad diaria en Santiago y su relación con la contaminación del aire / Daily mortality in Santiago and its relationship with air pollution

Background: Santiago de Chile, due to meteorological and topographic factors, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The adverse effects of contamination on health are relatively well known, but they may be overvalued. Aim: To evaluate the short term effects of exposure to air pollution on mortality of people over 65 years old. Material and methods: Daily mortality data in Santiago, from 1988 to 1993, was obtained from the National Statistics Institute. Daily concentrations of contaminants in Santiago and meteorological variables, were obtained from SESMA the Metropolitan Envinonmental Health Services. An association between contamination and mortality due to respiratory or cardiovascular diseases in subjects over 65 years old was searched, using temporal series analysis. Results: There was a significant association between air pollution, meteorological variables on the same and previous days and mortality. PM10 had the strongest association with mortality. The relative risk of a 100 µg/m3 increment in PM10 was 1.052 for the elderly, 1.025 for cardiovascular and 1.061 for respiratory mortality. The relative risk of SO2 was 1.006 for all deaths and 1.017 for respiratory deaths. The figures for O3 were 1.015 for all deaths and 1.008 for cardiovascular deaths. Conclusions: This work confirms a consistent association between air pollution and daily mortality, specially for particulate matter, even for levels below Chilean norms