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Poniedziałek B, Rzymski P, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Flisiak R. Viral respiratory infections and air pollution: A review focused on research in Poland. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142256. [PMID: 38723686 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced an interest in the relationship between air pollution and respiratory viral infections, indicating that their burden can be increased under poor air quality. This paper reviews the pathways through which air pollutants can enhance susceptibility to such infections and aggravate their clinical course and outcome. It also summarizes the research exploring the links between various viral infections and exposure to solid and gaseous pollution in Poland, a region characterized by poor air quality, especially during a heating season. The majority of studies focused on concentrations of particulate matter (PM; 86.7%); the other pollutants, i.e., BaP, benzene, CO, NOx, O3, and SO2, were studied less often and sometimes only in the context of a particular infection type. Most research concerned COVID-19, showing that elevated levels of PM and NO2 correlated with higher morbidity and mortality, while increased PM2.5 and benzo[a]pyrene levels were related to worse clinical course and outcome in hospitalized, regardless of age and dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. PM10 and PM2.5 levels were also associated with the incidence of influenza-like illness and, along with NO2 concentrations, with a higher rate of children's hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract RSV infections. Higher levels of air pollutants also increased hospitalization due to bronchitis (PM, NOx, and O3) and emergency department admission due to viral croup (PM10, PM2.5, NOx, CO, and benzene). Although the conducted studies imply only correlations and have other limitations, as discussed in the present paper, it appears that improving air quality through reducing combustion processes in energy production in Poland should be perceived as a part of multilayered protection measures against respiratory viral infections, decreasing the healthcare costs of COVID-19, lower tract RSV infections, influenza, and other respiratory viral diseases prevalent between autumn and early spring, in addition to other health and climate benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Poniedziałek
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
| | | | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
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Roudreo B, Puangthongthub S. Alleviation of PM2.5-associated Risk of Daily Influenza Hospitalization by COVID-19 Lockdown Measures: A Time-series Study in Northeastern Thailand. J Prev Med Public Health 2024; 57:108-119. [PMID: 38374709 PMCID: PMC10999304 DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.23.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Abrupt changes in air pollution levels associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak present a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of air pollution on influenza risk, at a time when emission sources were less active and personal hygiene practices were more rigorous. METHODS This time-series study examined the relationship between influenza cases (n=22 874) and air pollutant concentrations from 2018 to 2021, comparing the timeframes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in and around Thailand's Khon Kaen province. Poisson generalized additive modeling was employed to estimate the relative risk of hospitalization for influenza associated with air pollutant levels. RESULTS Before the COVID-19 outbreak, both the average daily number of influenza hospitalizations and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) concentration exceeded those later observed during the pandemic (p<0.001). In single-pollutant models, a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 before COVID-19 was significantly associated with increased influenza risk upon exposure to cumulative-day lags, specifically lags 0-5 and 0-6 (p<0.01). After adjustment for co-pollutants, PM2.5 demonstrated the strongest effects at lags 0 and 4, with elevated risk found across all cumulative-day lags (0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6) and significantly greater risk in the winter and summer at lag 0-5 (p<0.01). However, the PM2.5 level was not significantly associated with influenza risk during the COVID-19 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS Lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic could mitigate the risk of PM2.5-induced influenza. Effective regulatory actions in the context of COVID-19 may decrease PM2.5 emissions and improve hygiene practices, thereby reducing influenza hospitalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjawan Roudreo
- Industrial Toxicology and Risk Assessment Graduate Program, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sitthichok Puangthongthub
- Industrial Toxicology and Risk Assessment Graduate Program, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Sun R, Tao J, Tang N, Chen Z, Guo X, Zou L, Zhou J. Air Pollution and Influenza: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 53:1-11. [PMID: 38694869 PMCID: PMC11058381 DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v53i1.14678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Influenza is the first infectious disease that implements global monitoring and is one of the major public health issues in the world. Air pollutants have become an important global public health issue, in recent years, and much epidemiological and clinical evidence has shown that air pollutants are associated with respiratory diseases. Methods We comprehensively searched articles published up to 15 November 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Database of Chinese sci-tech periodicals, and Wanfang Database. The search strategies were based on keyword combinations related to influenza and air pollutants. The air pollutants included particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). Meta-analysis was performed using the R programming language (R4.2.1). Results A total of 2926 records were identified and 1220 duplicates were excluded. Finally, 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. We observed a significant association between partial air pollutants (PM2.5, NO2, PM10 and SO2) and the incidence risk of influenza. The RRs were 1.0221 (95% CI: 1.0093~1.0352), 1.0395 (95% CI: 1.0131~1.0666), 1.007 (95% CI: 1.0009~1.0132), and 1.0352 (95% CI. 1.0076~1.0635), respectively. However, there was no significant relationship between CO and O3 exposure and influenza, and the RRs were 1.2272 (95% CI: 0.9253~1.6275) and 1.0045 (95% CI: 0.9930~1.0160), respectively. Conclusion Exposure to PM2.5, NO2, PM10, and SO2 was significantly associated with influenza, which may be risk factors for influenza. The association of CO and O3 with influenza needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Tao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Na Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Zhijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaowei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Lianhong Zou
- Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Junhua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
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Zhang R, Lai KY, Liu W, Liu Y, Ma X, Webster C, Luo L, Sarkar C. Associations between Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Influenza: An Individual-Level Case-Crossover Study in Guangzhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:127009. [PMID: 38078424 PMCID: PMC10711742 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza imposes a heavy burden on public health. Little is known, however, of the associations between detailed measures of exposure to ambient air pollution and influenza at an individual level. OBJECTIVE We examined individual-level associations between six criteria air pollutants and influenza using case-crossover design. METHODS In this individual-level time-stratified case-crossover study, we linked influenza cases collected by the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019 with individual residence-level exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ) and carbon monoxide (CO). The exposures were estimated for the day of onset of influenza symptoms (lag 0), 1-7 d before the onset (lags 1-7), as well as an 8-d moving average (lag07), using a random forest model and linked to study participants' home addresses. Conditional logistic regression was developed to investigate the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and influenza, adjusting for mean temperature, relative humidity, public holidays, population mobility, and community influenza susceptibility. RESULTS N = 108,479 eligible cases were identified in our study. Every 10 - μ g / m 3 increase in exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and CO and every 5 - μ g / m 3 increase in SO 2 over 8-d moving average (lag07) was associated with higher risk of influenza with a relative risk (RR) of 1.028 (95% CI: 1.018, 1.038), 1.041 (95% CI: 1.032, 1.049), 1.169 (95% CI: 1.151, 1.188), 1.004 (95% CI: 1.003, 1.006), and 1.134 (95% CI: 1.107, 1.163), respectively. There was a negative association between O 3 and influenza with a RR of 0.878 (95% CI: 0.866, 0.890). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution, except for O 3 , is associated with greater risk for influenza. Further studies are necessary to decipher underlying mechanisms and design preventive interventions and policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12145.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Yan Lai
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chris Webster
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chinmoy Sarkar
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Motlogeloa O, Fitchett JM. Climate and human health: a review of publication trends in the International Journal of Biometeorology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8. [PMID: 37129619 PMCID: PMC10153057 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The climate-health nexus is well documented in the field of biometeorology. Since its inception, Biometeorology has in many ways become the umbrella under which much of this collaborative research has been conducted. Whilst a range of review papers have considered the development of biometeorological research and its coverage in this journal, and a few have reviewed the literature on specific diseases, none have focused on the sub-field of climate and health as a whole. Since its first issue in 1957, the International Journal of Biometeorology has published a total of 2183 papers that broadly consider human health and its relationship with climate. In this review, we identify a total of 180 (8.3%, n = 2183) of these papers that specifically focus on the intersection between meteorological variables and specific, named diagnosable diseases, and explore the publication trends thereof. The number of publications on climate and health in the journal increases considerably since 2011. The largest number of publications on the topic was in 2017 (18) followed by 2021 (17). Of the 180 studies conducted, respiratory diseases accounted for 37.2% of the publications, cardiovascular disease 17%, and cerebrovascular disease 11.1%. The literature on climate and health in the journal is dominated by studies from the global North, with a particular focus on Asia and Europe. Only 2.2% and 8.3% of these studies explore empirical evidence from the African continent and South America respectively. These findings highlight the importance of continued research on climate and human health, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries, the populations of which are more vulnerable to climate-sensitive illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogone Motlogeloa
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jennifer M Fitchett
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Ma P, Zhou N, Wang X, Zhang Y, Tang X, Yang Y, Ma X, Wang S. Stronger susceptibilities to air pollutants of influenza A than B were identified in subtropical Shenzhen, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115100. [PMID: 36565842 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution was indicated to be a key factor contributing to the aggressive spread of influenza viruses, whereas uncertainty still exists regarding to whether distinctions exist between influenza subtypes. Our study quantified the impact of five air pollutants on influenza subtype outbreaks in Shenzhen, China, a densely populated and highly urbanized megacity. Daily influenza outbreak data of laboratory-confirmed positive cases were obtained from the Shenzhen CDC, from May 1, 2013 to Dec 31, 2015. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matters ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), particulate matters ≤10 μm (PM10), and ozone (O3), were retrieved from the 18 national monitoring stations. The generalized additive model (GAM) and distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) were used to calculate the concentration-response relationships between environmental inducers and outbreak epidemics, respectively for influenza A (Flu-A) and B (Flu-B). There were 1687 positive specimens were confirmed during the study period. The cold season was restricted from Nov. 4th to Apr. 20th, covering all seasons other than the long-lasting summer. Relatively heavy fine particle matter (PM2.5) and NO2 pollution was observed in cold months, with mean concentrations of 46.06 μg/m3 and 40.03 μg/m3, respectively. Time-series analysis indicated that high concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 were associated with more influenza outbreaks at short lag periods (0-5 d). Although more Flu-B (679 cases) epidemics occurred than Flu-A (382 cases) in the cold season, Flu-A generally showed higher susceptibility to air pollutants. A 10 μg/m3 increment in concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and O3 at lag 04, was associated with a 2.103 (95%CI: 1.528-2.893), 1.618 (95%CI: 1.311-1.996), and 1.569 (95%CI: 1.214-2.028) of the relative risk (RR) of Flu-A, respectively. A 5 μg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with higher risk of Flu-A at lag 03 (RR = 1.646, 95%CI: 1.295-2.092) and of Flu-B at lag 04 (RR = 1.319, 95%CI: 1.095-1.588). Nevertheless, barely significant effect of particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10) on Flu-B and SO2 on both subtypes was detected. Further, the effect estimates of NO2 increased for both subtypes when coexisting with other pollutants. This study provides evidence that declining concentrations of main pollutants including NO2, O3, and particulate matters, could substantially decrease influenza risk in subtropical Shenzhen, especially for influenza A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Ma
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China; Chengdu Plain Urban Meteorology and Environment Scientific Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ning Zhou
- The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou, Lanzhou, 730050, Gansu, China.
| | - Xinzi Wang
- Meteorological Bureau of Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China; Chengdu Plain Urban Meteorology and Environment Scientific Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xiaoxin Tang
- Shenzhen National Climate Observatory, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xiaolu Ma
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China.
| | - Shigong Wang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China.
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Lian XY, Xi L, Zhang ZS, Yang LL, Du J, Cui Y, Li HJ, Zhang WX, Wang C, Liu B, Yang YN, Cui F, Lu QB. Impact of air pollutants on influenza-like illness outpatient visits under COVID-19 pandemic in the subcenter of Beijing, China. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28514. [PMID: 36661040 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the association between air pollutants and outpatient visits for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stage in the subcenter of Beijing. The data on ILI in the subcenter of Beijing from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 were obtained from the Beijing Influenza Surveillance Network. A generalized additive Poisson model was applied to examine the associations between the concentrations of air pollutants and daily outpatient visits for ILI when controlling meteorological factors and temporal trend. A total of 171 943 ILI patients were included. In the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stage, an increased risk of ILI outpatient visits was associated to a high air quality index (AQI) and the high concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 (PM2.5 ), particulate matter 10 (PM10 ), sulphur dioxide (SO2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), and carbon monoxide (CO), and a low concentration of ozone (O3 ) on lag0 day and lag1 day, while a higher increased risk of ILI outpatient visits was observed by the air pollutants in the COVID-19 stage on lag0 day. Except for PM10 , the concentrations of other air pollutants on lag1 day were not significantly associated with an increased risk of ILI outpatient visits during the COVID-19 stage. The findings that air pollutants had enhanced immediate effects and diminished lag-effects on the risk of ILI outpatient visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is important for the development of public health and environmental governance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yao Lian
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Xi
- Beijing Tongzhou Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong Song Zhang
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li Yang
- Beijing Tongzhou Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Du
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Cui
- Beijing Tongzhou Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Jun Li
- Beijing Tongzhou Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan Xue Zhang
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Wang
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bei Liu
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Na Yang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuqiang Cui
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Bin Lu
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research & Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Yin J, Liu T, Tang F, Chen D, Sun L, Song S, Zhang S, Wu J, Li Z, Xing W, Wang X, Ding G. Effects of ambient temperature on influenza-like illness: A multicity analysis in Shandong Province, China, 2014-2017. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1095436. [PMID: 36699880 PMCID: PMC9868675 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1095436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The associations between ambient temperature and influenza-like illness (ILI) have been investigated in previous studies. However, they have inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of ambient temperature on ILI in Shandong Province, China. Methods Weekly ILI surveillance and meteorological data over 2014-2017 of the Shandong Province were collected from the Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the China Meteorological Data Service Center, respectively. A distributed lag non-linear model was adopted to estimate the city-specific temperature-ILI relationships, which were used to pool the regional-level and provincial-level estimates through a multivariate meta-analysis. Results There were 911,743 ILI cases reported in the study area between 2014 and 2017. The risk of ILI increased with decreasing weekly ambient temperature at the provincial level, and the effect was statistically significant when the temperature was <-1.5°C (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.00-1.54). We found that the relationship between temperature and ILI showed an L-shaped curve at the regional level, except for Southern Shandong (S-shaped). The risk of ILI was influenced by cold, with significant lags from 2.5 to 3 weeks, and no significant effect of heat on ILI was found. Conclusion Our findings confirm that low temperatures significantly increased the risk of ILI in the study area. In addition, the cold effect of ambient temperature may cause more risk of ILI than the hot effect. The findings have significant implications for developing strategies to control ILI and respond to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yin
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China,Center for Big Data Research in Health and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ti Liu
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Center for Big Data Research in Health and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Dongzhen Chen
- Institute of Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Liaocheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Liaocheng, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shaoxia Song
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengyang Zhang
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Julong Wu
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhong Li
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Weijia Xing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China,Weijia Xing ✉
| | - Xianjun Wang
- Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China,Xianjun Wang ✉
| | - Guoyong Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China,*Correspondence: Guoyong Ding ✉
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Yang J, Yang Z, Qi L, Li M, Liu D, Liu X, Tong S, Sun Q, Feng L, Ou CQ, Liu Q. Influence of air pollution on influenza-like illness in China: a nationwide time-series analysis. EBioMedicine 2022; 87:104421. [PMID: 36563486 PMCID: PMC9800295 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence concerning effects of air pollution on influenza-like illness (ILI) from multi-center is limited and little is known about how regional factors might modify this relationship. METHODS In this ecological study, ILI cases defined as outpatients with temperature ≥38 °C, accompanied by cough or sore throat, were collected from National Influenza Surveillance Network in China. We adopted generalized additive model with quasi-Poisson to estimate province-specific association between air pollution and ILI in 30 Chinese provinces during 2015-2019, after adjusting for time trend and meteorological factors. We then pooled province-specific association by using random-effect meta-analysis. Potential effect modifications of season and regional characteristics were explored. FINDINGS A total of 26, 004, 853 ILI cases and 777, 223, 877 hospital outpatients were collected. In general, effects of air pollutants were acute. An inter-quartile range increase of PM2.5, SO2, PM10, NO2 and CO at lag0, and O3 at lag0-2 was associated with 3.08% (95% CI: 1.91%, 4.27%), 3.00% (1.86%, 4.16%), 6.46% (4.71%, 8.25%), 7.21% (5.73%, 8.71%), 4.37% (3.05%, 5.70%), and -9.26% (-11.32%, -7.14%) change of ILI at national level, respectively. Associations between air pollutants and ILI varied by season and regions, with higher effect estimates in cold season, eastern and central regions and provinces with more humid condition and larger population. INTERPRETATION This study indicated that most air pollutants increased the risk of ILI in China. Our findings might provide implications for the development of policies to protect public health from air pollution and influenza. FUNDING National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chongqing Health Commission Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Zhou Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Biostatistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Li Qi
- Chongqing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Department of Cancer Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Di Liu
- School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Shilu Tong
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Qinghua Sun
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Luzhao Feng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Chun-Quan Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Biostatistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China,Corresponding author.
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10
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Rittweger J, Gilardi L, Baltruweit M, Dally S, Erbertseder T, Mittag U, Naeem M, Schmid M, Schmitz MT, Wüst S, Dech S, Jordan J, Antoni T, Bittner M. Temperature and particulate matter as environmental factors associated with seasonality of influenza incidence - an approach using Earth observation-based modeling in a health insurance cohort study from Baden-Württemberg (Germany). Environ Health 2022; 21:131. [PMID: 36527040 PMCID: PMC9755806 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00927-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza seasonality has been frequently studied, but its mechanisms are not clear. Urban in-situ studies have linked influenza to meteorological or pollutant stressors. Few studies have investigated rural and less polluted areas in temperate climate zones. OBJECTIVES We examined influences of medium-term residential exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), NO2, SO2, air temperature and precipitation on influenza incidence. METHODS To obtain complete spatial coverage of Baden-Württemberg, we modeled environmental exposure from data of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. We computed spatiotemporal aggregates to reflect quarterly mean values at post-code level. Moreover, we prepared health insurance data to yield influenza incidence between January 2010 and December 2018. We used generalized additive models, with Gaussian Markov random field smoothers for spatial input, whilst using or not using quarter as temporal input. RESULTS In the 3.85 million cohort, 513,404 influenza cases occurred over the 9-year period, with 53.6% occurring in quarter 1 (January to March), and 10.2%, 9.4% and 26.8% in quarters 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Statistical modeling yielded highly significant effects of air temperature, precipitation, PM2.5 and NO2. Computation of stressor-specific gains revealed up to 3499 infections per 100,000 AOK clients per year that are attributable to lowering ambient mean air temperature from 18.71 °C to 2.01 °C. Stressor specific gains were also substantial for fine particulate matter, yielding up to 502 attributable infections per 100,000 clients per year for an increase from 7.49 μg/m3 to 15.98 μg/m3. CONCLUSIONS Whilst strong statistical association of temperature with other stressors makes it difficult to distinguish between direct and mediated temperature effects, results confirm genuine effects by fine particulate matter on influenza infections for both rural and urban areas in a temperate climate. Future studies should attempt to further establish the mediating mechanisms to inform public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörn Rittweger
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147, Cologne, Germany.
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Lorenza Gilardi
- German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
| | - Maxana Baltruweit
- Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Baden-Württemberg (AOK-BW), Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Simon Dally
- Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Baden-Württemberg (AOK-BW), Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thilo Erbertseder
- German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
| | - Uwe Mittag
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147, Cologne, Germany
| | - Muhammad Naeem
- Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan
| | - Matthias Schmid
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marie-Therese Schmitz
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sabine Wüst
- German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
| | - Stefan Dech
- German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
| | - Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147, Cologne, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Antoni
- Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Baden-Württemberg (AOK-BW), Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Bittner
- German Remote Sensing Data Center, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
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11
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Yang R, Yin L, Hao X, Liu L, Wang C, Li X, Liu Q. Identifying a suitable model for predicting hourly pollutant concentrations by using low-cost microstation data and machine learning. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19949. [PMID: 36402807 PMCID: PMC9675857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurately predicting the concentration of PM2.5 (fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less) is essential for health risk assessment and formulation of air pollution control strategies. At present, there is also a large amount of air pollution data. How to efficiently mine its hidden features to obtain the future concentration of pollutants is very important for the prevention and control of air pollution. Therefore we build a pollutant prediction model based on Lightweight Gradient Boosting Model (LightGBM) shallow machine learning and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network. Firstly, the PM2.5 pollutant concentration data of 34 air quality stations in Beijing and the data of 18 weather stations were matched in time and space to obtain an input data set. Subsequently, the input data set was cleaned and preprocessed, and the training set was obtained by methods such as input feature extraction, input factor normalization, and data outlier processing. The hourly PM2.5 concentration value prediction was achieved in accordance with experiments conducted with the hourly PM2.5 data of Beijing from January 1, 2018 to October 1, 2020. Ultimately, the optimal hourly series prediction results were obtained after model comparisons. Through the comparison of these two models, it is found that the RMSE predicted by LSTM model for each pollutant is nearly 50% lower than that of LightGBM, and is more consistent with the fitting curve between the actual observations. The exploration of the input step size of LSTM model found that the accuracy of 3-h input data was higher than that of 12-h input data. It can be used for the management and decision-making of environmental protection departments and the formulation of preventive measures for emergency pollution incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongjin Yang
- grid.418569.70000 0001 2166 1076Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lizeyan Yin
- grid.494717.80000000115480420Higher Institute of Computer Modeling and Their Applications, Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Xuejie Hao
- grid.20513.350000 0004 1789 9964State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Liu
- grid.20513.350000 0004 1789 9964State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Wang
- grid.20513.350000 0004 1789 9964State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuhong Li
- grid.20513.350000 0004 1789 9964State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- grid.20513.350000 0004 1789 9964State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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12
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Romaszko J, Dragańska E, Jalali R, Cymes I, Glińska-Lewczuk K. Universal Climate Thermal Index as a prognostic tool in medical science in the context of climate change: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154492. [PMID: 35278561 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of the impact of meteorological factors on the epidemiology of various diseases and on human pathophysiology and physiology requires a comprehensive approach and new tools independent of currently occurring climate change. The thermal comfort index, i.e., Universal Climate Thermal Index (UTCI), is gaining more and more recognition from researchers interested in such assessments. This index facilitates the evaluation of the impact of cold stress and heat stress on the human organism and the assessment of the incidence of weather-related diseases. This work aims at identifying those areas of medical science for which the UTCI was applied for scientific research as well as its popularization among clinicians, epidemiologists, and specialists in public health management. This is a systematic review of literature found in Pubmed, Sciencedirect and Web of Science databases from which, consistent with PRISMA guidelines, original papers employing the UTCI in studies related to health, physiological parameters, and epidemiologic applications were extracted. Out of the total number of 367 papers identified in the databases, 33 original works were included in the analysis. The selected publications were analyzed in terms of determining the areas of medical science in which the UTCI was applied. The majority of studies were devoted to the broadly understood mortality, cardiac events, and emergency medicine. A significant disproportion between publications discussing heat stress and those utilizing the UTCI for its assessment was revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Romaszko
- Department of Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Ewa Dragańska
- Department of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Rakesh Jalali
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Iwona Cymes
- Department of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
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13
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Zhang R, Lai KY, Liu W, Liu Y, Lu J, Tian L, Webster C, Luo L, Sarkar C. Community-level ambient fine particulate matter and seasonal influenza among children in Guangzhou, China: A Bayesian spatiotemporal analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 826:154135. [PMID: 35227720 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza is a major preventable infectious respiratory disease. However, there is little detailed long-term evidence of its associations with PM2.5 among children. We examined the community-level associations between exposure to ambient PM2.5 and incident influenza in Guangzhou, China. METHODS We used data from the city-wide influenza surveillance system collected by Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (GZCDC) over the period 2013 and 2019. Incident influenza was defined as daily new influenza (both clinically diagnosed and laboratory confirmed) cases as per standard diagnostic criteria. A 200-meter city-wide grid of daily ambient PM2.5 exposure was generated using a random forest model. We developed spatiotemporal Bayesian hierarchical models to examine the community-level associations between PM2.5 and the influenza adjusting for meteorological and socioeconomic variables and accounting for spatial autocorrelation. We also calculated community-wide influenza cases attributable to PM2.5 levels exceeding the China Grade 1 and World Health Organization (WHO) regulatory thresholds. RESULTS Our study comprised N = 191,846 children from Guangzhou aged ≤19 years and diagnosed with influenza between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. Each 10 μg/m3 increment in community-level PM2.5 measured on the day of case confirmation (lag 0) and over a 6-day moving average (lag 0-5 days) was associated with higher risks of influenza (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.05-1.06 for lag 0 and RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.14-1.16 for lag 05). We estimated that 8.10% (95%CI: 7.23%-8.57%) and 20.11% (95%CI: 17.64%-21.48%) influenza cases respectively were attributable to daily PM2.5 exposure exceeding the China Grade I (35 μg/m3) and the WHO limits (25 μg/m3). The risks associated with PM2.5 exposures were more pronounced among children of the age-group 10-14 compared to other age groups. CONCLUSIONS More targeted non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at reducing PM2.5 exposures at home, school and during commutes among children may constitute additional influenza prevention and control polices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Yan Lai
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianyun Lu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linwei Tian
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Patrick Mason Building, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chris Webster
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chinmoy Sarkar
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
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14
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Wang J, Zhang L, Lei R, Li P, Li S. Effects and Interaction of Meteorological Parameters on Influenza Incidence During 2010-2019 in Lanzhou, China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:833710. [PMID: 35273941 PMCID: PMC8902077 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.833710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza is a seasonal infectious disease, and meteorological parameters critically influence the incidence of influenza. However, the meteorological parameters linked to influenza occurrence in semi-arid areas are not studied in detail. This study aimed to clarify the impact of meteorological parameters on influenza incidence during 2010-2019 in Lanzhou. The results are expected to facilitate the optimization of influenza-related public health policies by the local healthcare departments. Methods Descriptive data related to influenza incidence and meteorology during 2010-2019 in Lanzhou were analyzed. The exposure-response relationship between the risk of influenza occurrence and meteorological parameters was explored according to the distributed lag no-linear model (DLNM) with Poisson distribution. The response surface model and stratified model were used to estimate the interactive effect between relative humidity (RH) and other meteorological parameters on influenza incidence. Results A total of 6701 cases of influenza were reported during 2010-2019. DLNM results showed that the risk of influenza would gradually increase as the weekly mean average ambient temperature (AT), RH, and absolute humidity (AH) decrease at lag 3 weeks when they were lower than 12.16°C, 51.38%, and 5.24 g/m3, respectively. The low Tem (at 5th percentile, P5) had the greatest effect on influenza incidence; the greatest estimated relative risk (RR) was 4.54 (95%CI: 3.19-6.46) at cumulative lag 2 weeks. The largest estimates of RRs for low RH (P5) and AH (P5) were 4.81 (95%CI: 3.82-6.05) and 4.17 (95%CI: 3.30-5.28) at cumulative lag 3 weeks, respectively. An increase in AT by 1°C led to an estimates of percent change (95%CI) of 3.12% (-4.75% to -1.46%) decrease in the weekly influenza case counts in a low RH environment. In addition, RH showed significant interaction with AT and AP on influenza incidence but not with wind speed. Conclusion This study indicated that low AT, low humidity (RH and AH), and high air pressure (AP) increased the risk of influenza. Moreover, the interactive effect of low RH with low AT and high AP can aggravate the incidence of influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruoyi Lei
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pu Li
- The Second People's Hospital of Baiyin, Baiyin, China
| | - Sheng Li
- The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou, Lanzhou, China
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15
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Jones RP, Ponomarenko A. Trends in Excess Winter Mortality (EWM) from 1900/01 to 2019/20-Evidence for a Complex System of Multiple Long-Term Trends. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063407. [PMID: 35329098 PMCID: PMC8953800 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Trends in excess winter mortality (EWM) were investigated from the winter of 1900/01 to 2019/20. During the 1918–1919 Spanish flu epidemic a maximum EWM of 100% was observed in both Denmark and the USA, and 131% in Sweden. During the Spanish flu epidemic in the USA 70% of excess winter deaths were coded to influenza. EWM steadily declined from the Spanish flu peak to a minimum around the 1960s to 1980s. This decline was accompanied by a shift in deaths away from the winter and spring, and the EWM calculation shifted from a maximum around April to June in the early 1900s to around March since the late 1960s. EWM has a good correlation with the number of estimated influenza deaths, but in this context influenza pandemics after the Spanish flu only had an EWM equivalent to that for seasonal influenza. This was confirmed for a large sample of world countries for the three pandemics occurring after 1960. Using data from 1980 onward the effect of influenza vaccination on EWM were examined using a large international dataset. No effect of increasing influenza vaccination could be discerned; however, there are multiple competing forces influencing EWM which will obscure any underlying trend, e.g., increasing age at death, multimorbidity, dementia, polypharmacy, diabetes, and obesity—all of which either interfere with vaccine effectiveness or are risk factors for influenza death. After adjusting the trend in EWM in the USA influenza vaccination can be seen to be masking higher winter deaths among a high morbidity US population. Adjusting for the effect of increasing obesity counteracted some of the observed increase in EWM seen in the USA. Winter deaths are clearly the outcome of a complex system of competing long-term trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney P. Jones
- Healthcare Analysis & Forecasting, Wantage OX12 0NE, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Andriy Ponomarenko
- Department of Biophysics, Informatics and Medical Instrumentation, Odessa National Medical University, Valikhovsky Lane 2, 65082 Odessa, Ukraine;
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Hsiao TC, Cheng PC, Chi KH, Wang HY, Pan SY, Kao C, Lee YL, Kuo HP, Chung KF, Chuang HC. Interactions of chemical components in ambient PM 2.5 with influenza viruses. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127243. [PMID: 34844361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The significance of this work is that ambient PM2.5 is a direct transmission mode for influenza virus infection to the human alveolar epithelium. The concentration of PM2.5 was 11.7 ± 5.5 μg/m3 in Taipei during 24 December 2019-13 January 2020. Approximately 79% of inhaled PM2.5 is able to reach the upper-to-lower airway, and 47% of PM2.5 is able to reach the alveolar epithelium for influenza virus infection. Influenza A and B viruses were detected in PM2.5 on 9 days, and the influenza A/H5 virus was detected on 15 days during the study period. FL and Pyr were negatively correlated with the influenza A virus. D(ah)P and Acp were positively correlated with the influenza B and A/H5 viruses, respectively. Cd, V, and Zn were positively correlated with the influenza A, B, and A/H5 viruses, respectively. Next, influenza A, B, and A/H5 viral plasmids interacted with carbon black, H2O2, DEPs, and UD. We observed that H2O2 significantly decreased levels of complementary DNA of the three influenza viruses. DEPs and UD significantly decreased influenza A and A/H5 viral levels. In conclusion, chemicals in PM2.5 may play vital roles in terms of viable influenza virus in the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ta-Chih Hsiao
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Po-Ching Cheng
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for International Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Kai Hsien Chi
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Hung-Yang Wang
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for International Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Shih-Yu Pan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ching Kao
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yueh-Lun Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Han-Pin Kuo
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Kian Fan Chung
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chuang
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Abstract
The correlations between air temperatures, relative and absolute humidity, wind, cloudiness, precipitation and number of influenza cases have been extensively studied in the past. Because, initially, COVID-19 cases were similar to influenza cases, researchers were prompted to look for similar relationships. The aim of the study is to identify the effects of changes in air temperature on the number of COVID-19 infections in Poland. The hypothesis under consideration concerns an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases as temperature decreases. The spatial heterogeneity of the relationship under study during the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic in Polish counties is thus revealed.
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18
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Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and COVID-19 Infection Rates and Mortality: a one-year observational study in Poland. Biomed J 2021; 44:S25-S36. [PMID: 34801766 PMCID: PMC8603332 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Atmospheric contamination, especially particulate matter (PM), can be associated viral infections connected with respiratory failure. Literature data indicates that intensity of SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide can be associated with PM pollution levels. Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between atmospheric contamination, measured as PM2.5 and PM10 levels, and the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Poland in a one-year observation study. Methods Number and geographical distribution of COVID-19 incidents and related deaths, as well as PM2.5 and PM10 exposure levels in Poland were obtained from publicly accessible databases. Average monthly values of these parameters for individual provinces were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was performed for the period between March 2020 and February 2021, taking into account average monthly exposure to PM2.5 and PM10, monthly COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants and the population density across Polish provinces. Results Only December 2020 the number of new infections was significantly related to the three analyzed factors: PM2.5, population density and the number of laboratory COVID-19 tests (R2 = 0.882). For COVID-19 mortality, a model with all three significant factors: PM10, population density and number of tests was obtained as significant only in November 2020 (R2 = 0.468). Conclusion The distribution of COVID-19 incidents across Poland was independent from annual levels of particulate matter concentration in provinces. Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality in different provinces only in certain months. Other cofactors such as population density and the number of performed COVID-19 tests also corresponded with both COVID-19-related infections and deaths only in certain months. Particulate matter should not be treated as the sole determinant of the spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic but its importance in the incidence of infectious diseases should not be forgotten.
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Cumulative Effects of Particulate Matter Pollution and Meteorological Variables on the Risk of Influenza-Like Illness. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040556. [PMID: 33810283 PMCID: PMC8065612 DOI: 10.3390/v13040556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The cold season is usually accompanied by an increased incidence of respiratory infections and increased air pollution from combustion sources. As we are facing growing numbers of COVID-19 cases caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, an understanding of the impact of air pollutants and meteorological variables on the incidence of respiratory infections is crucial. The incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) can be used as a close proxy for the circulation of influenza viruses. Recently, SARS-CoV-2 has also been detected in patients with ILI. Using distributed lag nonlinear models, we analyzed the association between ILI, meteorological variables and particulate matter concentration in Bialystok, Poland, from 2013–2019. We found an exponential relationship between cumulative PM2.5 pollution and the incidence of ILI, which remained significant after adjusting for air temperatures and a long-term trend. Pollution had the greatest effect during the same week, but the risk of ILI was increased for the four following weeks. The risk of ILI was also increased by low air temperatures, low absolute humidity, and high wind speed. Altogether, our results show that all measures implemented to decrease PM2.5 concentrations would be beneficial to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections.
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