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2627269 
Journal Article 
Abstract 
Impact of sugar cane burning air pollution on pneumonia emergency room visits. A 30 month study 
Arbex, MA; Pereira, LAA; Arbex, RF; Saldiva, PHN; Braga, ALF 
2010 
Yes 
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
ISSN: 1073-449X
EISSN: 1535-4970 
181 
A2422 
English 
WOS:000208771001336 
is part of a larger document 3452678 Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 2010 International Conference, May 14-19, 2010, New Orleans
In contrast to the large amount of information relating urban air pollution to human health impacts, there are only a limited number of studies directly evaluating the community health impacts of outdoor biomass burning air pollution. Biomass burning emissions represent an important global source of particles and gases to the atmosphere. Studies in developing countries have shown the association between indoor biomass burning and increased respiratory morbidity and mortality. Also, outdoor biomass burning is affecting more and more people each year and has became a public health problem. Uncontrolled fires and prescribed burning occurs on regular basis in many parts of the world. In Brazil, ethanol and sugar are produced from sugar cane and on the plantations áreas, the crop is burned before harvesting, which occurs every year from May to November, producing huge amount of particles. From February 2005 to August 2007, we analyzed the effects of daily variations of TSP generated, mainly from sugar cane burning on daily pneumonia emergency room visits (ICD 10th from J12 to J18). The study was carried out using data from the main hospital of Araraquara, a city located in the central area of the largest Brazilian sugar cane producing region. Generalized linear Poisson regression models were built for the outcome controlling for seasonality (natural spline), weather, and days of the week. Results were expressed in terms of percentage increases in the outcome due to 10 μg/m^3 increases in TSP concentrations. TSP levels changed dramatically from non-burning period (31 µg/m^3) to burning period (73 µg/m^3). Pneumonia emergency room visits during burning periods were 70% higher than non-burning periods. In general, TSP effect on the outcome was acute, remaining until two days after the exposure. A 10 μg/m^3 increase in the 3-day moving average of TSP was associated with an increase of 7.7% (95% CI: 3.7 - 11.8) on pneumonia ER visits. The magnitude of the effect observed in this study reinforces the relevance of this biomass-burning source of air pollution in public health and demands efforts to control pollutants emissions. 
American Thoracic Society 2010 International Conference 
New Orleans, LA 
May 14-19, 2010