Search

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dust–haze on mortality and to estimate the seasonal and individual-specific modification effects in Guangzhou, China. Mortality, air pollution and meteorological data were collected for 2006–2011. A dust–haze day was defined as daily visibility <10 km with relative humidity <90%. This definition was further divided into light (8–10 km), medium (5–8 km) and heavy dust–haze (<5 km). A distributed lag linear model (DLM) was employed. Light, medium and heavy dust–haze days were associated with increased mortality of 3.4%, 6.8% and 10.4% respectively, at a lag of 0–6 days. This effect was more pronounced during the cold season, for cardiovascular mortality (CVD), respiratory mortality (RESP), in males and people ≥60years. These effects became insignificant after adjustment for PM10. We concluded that dust–haze significantly increased mortality risk in Guangzhou, China, and this effect appears to be dominated by particulate mass and modified by season and individual-specific factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effects of ozone on mortality have been widely assessed in developed countries but rarely in developing countries, and the effects of season and temperature on these associations remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the modifying effects of temperature on the association of ozone with mortality, and to examine the lag effect structure in Guangzhou, China. Daily non-accidental mortality, air pollution and meteorological data from January 1st 2006 to December 31st 2008 in Guangzhou were collected. Generalized additive models (GAM) and distributed lag models (DLM) were used to estimate the excess risk (ER) of ozone on daily mortality and capture the lag effect structure. Results revealed that, in cold season, an increment in the ozone concentration of 10 μg m− 3 was associated with a 0.87% (95% CI: −0.06 to 2.29%) and 3.34% (95%CI: 1.36–5.35%) increase of mortality for lag0 and lag0–6, respectively. However, no significant effects were observed in the warm season. Daily average temperature and ozone concentration had interactive negative effects on non-accidental mortality in the cold season and at daily average temperatures in the 0–25th percentile, and mortality displacement was also found in these conditions. Therefore, the short-term effect of ambient ozone on mortality is modified by temperature in Guangzhou, China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We aimed to investigate the effects of ambient air pollutants on daily mortality in a relatively stable and homogeneous population in Guangzhou, China. Daily mortality, air pollution, and weather data between 2006 and 2009 were collected. The generalized additive model with poison regression was used to estimate the excessive risks (ERs) of air pollutants (PM10, SO2, and NO2) on total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. The effects of lag0–1 were the greatest for total non-accidental and cardiovascular deaths. The increments of 10μgm−3 in SO2, NO2, and PM10 were associated with ERs of 1.54% (95%CI: 1.03–2.06%), 1.42% (95%CI: 1.06–1.78%), and 1.26% (95%CI: 0.86–1.66%) respectively for total non-accidental deaths, and 2.28% (95%CI: 1.40–3.16%), 1.81% (95%CI: 1.20–2.41%), and 1.79% (95%CI: 1.11–2.47%) respectively for cardiovascular deaths. For persons who died from respiratory disease, however, the maximum effects occurred at lag0. The ERs for SO2, NO2, and PM10 were 1.36% (95%CI: 0.23–2.50%), 1.47% (95%CI: 0.66–2.29%) and 0.93% (95%CI: 0.03–1.83%), respectively. The effects of the three air pollutants on mortality were stronger in elderly and in women. The ERs in the present study were higher than those reported in Europe, the U.S., and most other Asian cities. Our findings show relatively higher ERs of daily mortality by ambient air pollutants in the center of Guangzhou, China, compared with estimates in other cities. Further studies with accurate exposure measurement among homogeneous population are needed to evaluate the precise magnitudes of the effects of the air pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]