US EPA

3357759 

Journal Article 

Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Emergency Room Visits for Respiratory Diseases in Spring Dust Storm Season in Lanzhou, China 

Ma, Y; Xiao, B; Liu, C; Zhao, Y; Zheng, X 

2016 

Yes 

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ISSN: 1661-7827
EISSN: 1660-4601 

MDPI 

BASEL 

13 

6 

613 

English 

27338430 

10.3390/ijerph13060613 

WOS:000378860100092 

http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/6/613
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BACKGROUND: Air pollution has become a major global public health problem. A number of studies have confirmed the association between air pollutants and emergency room (ER) visits for respiratory diseases in developed countries and some Asian countries, but little evidence has been seen in Western China. This study aims to concentrate on this region.

METHODS: A time-series analysis was used to examine the specific effects of major air pollutants (PM10, SO₂ and NO₂) on ER visits for respiratory diseases from 2007 to 2011 in the severely polluted city of Lanzhou. We examined the effects of air pollutants for stratified groups by age and gender, accounting for the modifying effect of dust storms in spring to test the possible interaction.

RESULTS: Significant associations were found between outdoor air pollution concentrations and respiratory diseases, as expressed by daily ER visits in Lanzhou in the spring dust season. The association between air pollution and ER visits appeared to be more evident on dust days than non-dust days. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs per 10 µg/m³ increase in 3-day PM10 (L3), 5-day SO₂ (L5), and the average of current and previous 2-day NO₂ (L01) were 1.140 (1.071-1.214), 1.080 (0.967-1.205), and 1.298 (1.158-1.454), respectively, on dust days. More significant associations between PM10, SO₂ and NO₂ and ER visits were found on dust days for elderly females, elderly males and adult males, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study strengthens the evidence of dust-exacerbated ER visits for respiratory diseases in Lanzhou. 

air pollutants; emergency room visits; respiratory system diseases; time-series; spring dust storm