1
|
Shi Y, Li N, Li Z, Chen M, Chen Z, Wan X. Impact of comprehensive air pollution control policies on six criteria air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction morbidity, Weifang, China: A quasi-experimental study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171206. [PMID: 38408668 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171206] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Comprehensive air pollution control policies may reduce pollutant emissions. However, the impact on disease morbidity of the change for the concentration of air pollutants following the policies has been insufficiently studied. We aim to assess the impact of comprehensive air pollution control policies on the levels of six criteria air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) morbidity in Weifang, China. This study performed an interrupted time series analysis. The linear model with spline terms and generalized additive quasi-Poisson model were used to estimate the immediate change from 2016 to 2019 in the daily concentration of six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3, and, CO) and AMI incident cases (Age ≥35) associated with the implementation of air pollution control policies in Weifang, respectively. After the implementation of air pollution control policies, air quality in Weifang had been improved. Specifically, the daily concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and, CO immediately decreased by 27.9 % (95 % CI: 6.6 % to 44.3 %), 32.9 % (95 % CI: 17.5 % to 45.5 %), 14.6 % (95 % CI: 0.4 % to 26.8 %), and 33.9 % (95 % CI: 22.0 % to 44.0 %), respectively. In addition, the policies implementation was also associate with the immediate decline in the AMI morbidity (-6.5 %, 95 % CI: -10.4 % to -2.3 %). And subgroup analyses indicate that the health effects of the policy intervention were only observed in female (-9.4 %, 95 % CI: -14.4 % to -4.2 %) and those aged ≥65 years (-10.5 %, 95 % CI: -14.6 % to -6.2 %). During the final 20 months of the study period, the policy intervention was estimated to prevent 1603 (95 % CI: 574 to 2587) cases of incident AMI in Weifang. Our results provide strong rationale that the policy intervention significantly reduced ambient pollutant concentrations and AMI morbidity, which highlighted the importance for a comprehensive and rigorous air pollution control policy in regions with severe air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Ning Li
- Weifang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Weifang 261061, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongyan Li
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang 261044, Shandong, China
| | - Min Chen
- Weifang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Weifang 261061, Shandong, China
| | - Zuosen Chen
- Weifang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Weifang 261061, Shandong, China
| | - Xia Wan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Henneman LR, Rasel MM, Choirat C, Anenberg SC, Zigler C. Inequitable Exposures to U.S. Coal Power Plant-Related PM2.5: 22 Years and Counting. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:37005. [PMID: 36884005 PMCID: PMC9994529 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emissions from coal power plants have decreased over recent decades due to regulations and economics affecting costs of providing electricity generated by coal vis-à-vis its alternatives. These changes have improved regional air quality, but questions remain about whether benefits have accrued equitably across population groups. OBJECTIVES We aimed to quantify nationwide long-term changes in exposure to particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μ m (PM 2.5 ) associated with coal power plant SO 2 emissions. We linked exposure reductions with three specific actions taken at individual power plants: scrubber installations, reduced operations, and retirements. We assessed how emissions changes in different locations have influenced exposure inequities, extending previous source-specific environmental justice analyses by accounting for location-specific differences in racial/ethnic population distributions. METHODS We developed a data set of annual PM 2.5 source impacts ("coal PM 2.5 ") associated with SO 2 emissions at each of 1,237 U.S. coal-fired power plants across 1999-2020. We linked population-weighted exposure with information about each coal unit's operational and emissions-control status. We calculate changes in both relative and absolute exposure differences across demographic groups. RESULTS Nationwide population-weighted coal PM 2.5 declined from 1. 96 μ g / m 3 in 1999 to 0.06 μ g / m 3 in 2020. Between 2007 and 2010, most of the exposure reduction is attributable to SO 2 scrubber installations, and after 2010 most of the decrease is attributable to retirements. Black populations in the South and North Central United States and Native American populations in the western United States were inequitably exposed early in the study period. Although inequities decreased with falling emissions, facilities in states across the North Central United States continue to inequitably expose Black populations, and Native populations are inequitably exposed to emissions from facilities in the West. DISCUSSION We show that air quality controls, operational adjustments, and retirements since 1999 led to reduced exposure to coal power plant related PM 2.5 . Reduced exposure improved equity overall, but some populations continue to be inequitably exposed to PM 2.5 associated with facilities in the North Central and western United States. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11605.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R.F. Henneman
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering; George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Munshi Md Rasel
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering; George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Christine Choirat
- Swiss Data Science Center, ETH Zürich and EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Susan C. Anenberg
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Corwin Zigler
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Feng S, Huang F, Zhang Y, Feng Y, Zhang Y, Cao Y, Wang X. The pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of atmospheric PM 2.5 affecting cardiovascular health: A review. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 249:114444. [PMID: 38321663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5, with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) is a leading environmental risk factor for global cardiovascular health concern. OBJECTIVE To provide a roadmap for those new to this field, we reviewed the new insights into the pathophysiological and cellular/molecular mechanisms of PM2.5 responsible for cardiovascular health. MAIN FINDINGS PM2.5 is able to disrupt multiple physiological barriers integrity and translocate into the systemic circulation and get access to a range of secondary target organs. An ever-growing body of epidemiological and controlled exposure studies has evidenced a causal relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A variety of cellular and molecular biology mechanisms responsible for the detrimental cardiovascular outcomes attributable to PM2.5 exposure have been described, including metabolic activation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, inflammation, dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling, disturbance of autophagy, and induction of apoptosis, by which PM2.5 exposure impacts the functions and fates of multiple target cells in cardiovascular system or related organs and further alters a series of pathophysiological processes, such as cardiac autonomic nervous system imbalance, increasing blood pressure, metabolic disorder, accelerated atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability, platelet aggregation and thrombosis, and disruption in cardiac structure and function, ultimately leading to cardiovascular events and death. Therein, oxidative stress and inflammation were suggested to play pivotal roles in those pathophysiological processes. CONCLUSION Those biology mechanisms have deepen insights into the etiology, course, prevention and treatment of this public health concern, although the underlying mechanisms have not yet been entirely clarified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaolong Feng
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou 510640, China; The State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Fangfang Huang
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Yashi Feng
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Yunchang Cao
- The Department of Molecular Biology, School of Intelligent Medicine and Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Xinming Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou 510640, China; The State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Miller AG, Ebelt S, Levy K. Combined Sewer Overflows and Gastrointestinal Illness in Atlanta, 2002-2013: Evaluating the Impact of Infrastructure Improvements. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:57009. [PMID: 35580035 PMCID: PMC9113542 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge untreated sewage into surface and recreational water, often following heavy precipitation. Given projected increases in frequency and intensity of precipitation due to climate change, it is important to understand the health impacts of CSOs and mediating effects of sewerage systems. OBJECTIVES In this study we estimate associations of CSO events and emergency department (ED) visits for gastrointestinal (GI) illness among City of Atlanta, Georgia, residents and explore how these associations vary with sewerage improvements. METHODS We estimate associations using Poisson generalized linear models, controlling for time trends. We categorized CSOs by overflow volume and assessed effects of CSO events prior to ED visits with 1-, 2- and 3-wk lags. Similarly, we evaluated effects of weekly cumulative precipitation greater than the 90th percentile at the same lags. We also evaluated effect modification by ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level poverty and infrastructure improvement period using interaction terms. RESULTS Occurrence of a large volume CSO in the previous week was associated with a 9% increase in daily ED visits for GI illness. We identified significant interaction by ZCTA-level poverty, with stronger CSO-GI illness associations in low than high poverty areas. Among areas with low poverty, we observed associations at 1-wk and longer lags, following both large and lower volume CSO events. We did not observe significant interaction by infrastructure improvement period for CSO- nor precipitation-GI illness associations; however, the number of CSO events decreased from 2.31 per week before improvements to 0.49 after improvements. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that CSOs contribute to acute GI illness burden in Atlanta and that the magnitude of this risk may be higher among populations living in areas of low poverty. We did not find a protective effect of sewerage system improvements. Nonetheless, observed reductions in CSO frequency may lower the absolute burden of GI illness attributable to these events. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10399.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa G. Miller
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stefanie Ebelt
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Levy
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gao Q, Zang E, Bi J, Dubrow R, Lowe SR, Chen H, Zeng Y, Shi L, Chen K. Long-term ozone exposure and cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults: A cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 160:107072. [PMID: 34979350 PMCID: PMC8821373 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ambient particulate matter pollution has been linked to impaired cognitive performance, but the effect of ambient ozone exposure on cognitive function remains largely unknown. We examined the association of long-term ozone exposure with the risk of cognitive impairment among a national representative cohort of 9,544 Chinese older adults (aged 65 years and over) with baseline normal cognition from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2005-2018). The ozone exposure of each participant was measured by annual mean ozone concentrations for the county of residence. Cognitive function was assessed by the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We defined cognitive impairment as an MMSE score below 18 points accompanied by an MMSE score that declined ≥ 4 points from baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to explore the association of ozone exposure with cognitive impairment. During the mean follow-up time of 6.5 years, 2,601 older adults developed cognitive impairment. Each 10-μg/m3 increase in annual mean ozone exposure was associated with a 10.4% increased risk of cognitive impairment. The exposure-response relationship between ozone exposure and risk of cognitive impairment showed a linear trend. Sensitivity analyses revealed the association to be robust. We found that older adults from Eastern, Central, and Southern China were particularly susceptible. Our results show that ozone is a risk factor for late-life cognitive decline. Reducing ambient ozone pollution may help delay the onset of cognitive impairment among older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Emma Zang
- Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Jun Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Robert Dubrow
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Sarah R Lowe
- Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Huashuai Chen
- Business School of Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, China; Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke Medical School, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Yi Zeng
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke Medical School, Durham, NC, United States; Center for Healthy Aging and Development Studies, National School of Development, Raissun Institute for Advanced Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liuhua Shi
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
In the period of 2005 to 2016, multiple air pollution control regulations have entered into effect in the United States at both the Federal and state level. In addition, economic changes have also occurred primarily in the electricity generation sector that substantially changed the emissions from this sector. This combination of policy implementations and economics has led to substantial reductions in PM2.5, its major constituents, and source specific PM2.5 concentrations across the New York State, particularly those of sulfate, nitrate, and primary organic carbon. However, secondary organic carbon and spark-ignition vehicular emission contributions have increased. Related studies of changes in health outcomes, the excess rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for a variety of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and respiratory infections have increased per unit mass of PM2.5. It appears that the increased toxicity per unit mass was due to the reduction in low toxicity constituents such that the remaining mass had greater impacts on public health.
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang X, Guo Y, Cai M, Qian ZM, Zhang S, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Vaughn MG, Aaron HE, Wu F, Zhang Y, Lin H. Constituents of fine particulate matter and asthma in six low- and middle-income countries. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 150:214-222.e5. [PMID: 34971647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.12.779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence concerning the effects of different chemical components of PM2.5 on asthma is limited, and the methodology to compare the relative importance of different PM2.5 components is lacking. OBJECTIVES To examine the associations between PM2.5 components and asthma, and investigate which constituent of PM2.5 possessed the most harmful effect on asthma. METHODS A total of 45,690 subjects were surveyed in six countries from 2007 to 2010. We geo-coded the residential community address of the participants, and used satellite remote sensing and chemical transport modeling to estimate their annual average concentrations. Mixed-effects generalized additive models were utilized to examine the associations between PM2.5 constituents and prevalence of asthma. We further used counterfactual analyses to determine the potential number of asthma cases. RESULTS We identified 6,178 asthma cases among the participants, producing a prevalence of 13.5%. The odds ratio (OR) for asthma associated with per standard deviation (SD) increment was 1.12 for PM2.5 mass, 1.12 for organic carbon (OC), 1.18 for black carbon (BC), 1.19 for sulfate, 1.28 for ammonium, and 1.21 for nitrate after controlling for potential confounders. Our counterfactual analyses suggested that ammonium was responsible for a substantial decline in asthma cases (1382, corresponding to 22.37% of overall cases) if the concentration was reduced to the 5th percentile of the current level. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that some chemical components (including BC, OC, sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate) of PM2.5 might be hazardous constituents contributing to the prevalence of asthma, among them, ammonium might be responsible for substantial proportion of asthma cases if reduced to a certain level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanfei Guo
- Shanghai Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai CDC), Shanghai, China
| | - Miao Cai
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengmin Min Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, USA
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zilong Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yin Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Michael G Vaughn
- School of Social Work, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, USA
| | - Hannah E Aaron
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, USA
| | - Fan Wu
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuqiang Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Hualiang Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Henneman LRF, Dedoussi IC, Casey JA, Choirat C, Barrett SRH, Zigler CM. Comparisons of simple and complex methods for quantifying exposure to individual point source air pollution emissions. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:654-663. [PMID: 32203059 PMCID: PMC7494583 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0219-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Expanded use of reduced complexity approaches in epidemiology and environmental justice investigations motivates detailed evaluation of these modeling approaches. Chemical transport models (CTMs) remain the most complete representation of atmospheric processes but are limited in applications that require large numbers of runs, such as those that evaluate individual impacts from large numbers of sources. This limitation motivates comparisons between modern CTM-derived techniques and intentionally simpler alternatives. We model population-weighted PM2.5 source impacts from each of greater than 1100 coal power plants operating in the United States in 2006 and 2011 using three approaches: (1) adjoint PM2.5 sensitivities calculated by the GEOS-Chem CTM; (2) a wind field-based Lagrangian model called HyADS; and (3) a simple calculation based on emissions and inverse source-receptor distance. Annual individual power plants' nationwide population-weighted PM2.5 source impacts calculated by HyADS and the inverse distance approach have normalized mean errors between 20 and 28% and root mean square error ranges between 0.0003 and 0.0005 µg m-3 compared with adjoint sensitivities. Reduced complexity approaches are most similar to the GEOS-Chem adjoint sensitivities nearby and downwind of sources, with degrading performance farther from and upwind of sources particularly when wind fields are not accounted for.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R F Henneman
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Irene C Dedoussi
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joan A Casey
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine Choirat
- Swiss Data Science Center, ETH Zürich and EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Steven R H Barrett
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Corwin M Zigler
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences and Department of Women's Health, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Willis MD, Hill EL, Kile ML, Carozza S, Hystad P. Assessing the effectiveness of vehicle emission regulations on improving perinatal health: a population-based accountability study. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 49:1781-1791. [PMID: 33485273 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyaa137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the 1990s, extensive regulations to reduce traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) have been implemented, yet the effectiveness of these regulations has not been assessed with respect to improving infant health. In this study, we evaluate how infant health risks associated with maternal residences near highways during pregnancy have changed over time. METHODS We created a population-based retrospective birth cohort with geocoded residential addresses in Texan metropolitan areas from 1996 through 2009 (n = 2 259 411). We compared term birthweight (37-42 weeks of gestation) among maternal residences <300 m from a highway (high TRAP exposure) (n = 394 346) and 500-3500 m from a highway (comparison group) (n = 1 865 065). We implemented linear regressions to evaluate interactions between high TRAP exposure and birth year, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status and neighbourhood context. In addition, we used propensity score matching to further reduce residual confounding. RESULTS From 1996 to 2009, outdoor NO2 decreased by 51.3%, based on regulatory monitoring data in Texas. Among pregnant women who resided in the high TRAP zone during pregnancy, interaction terms between residential location and birth year show that birthweight increased by 1.1 g [95% confidence interval CI): 0.7, 1.5) in unadjusted models and 0.3 g (95% CI: 0.0, 0.6) in matched models. Time-stratified models also show decreasing impacts of living in high TRAP areas on birthweight when comparing infants born in 1996-97 with 2008-09. Sensitivity analyses with alternative exposure and control groups show consistent results. CONCLUSIONS Infant health risks associated with maternal residence near highways have reduced over time, paralleling regulatory measures to improve exhaust pipe emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary D Willis
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Elaine L Hill
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY, USA
| | - Molly L Kile
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Susan Carozza
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Perry Hystad
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bi J, D'Souza RR, Rich DQ, Hopke PK, Russell AG, Liu Y, Chang HH, Ebelt S. Temporal changes in short-term associations between cardiorespiratory emergency department visits and PM 2.5 in Los Angeles, 2005 to 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 190:109967. [PMID: 32810677 PMCID: PMC7530030 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emissions control programs targeting certain air pollution sources may alter PM2.5 composition, as well as the risk of adverse health outcomes associated with PM2.5. OBJECTIVES We examined temporal changes in the risk of emergency department (ED) visits for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and asthma associated with short-term increases in ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Los Angeles, California. METHODS Poisson log-linear models with unconstrained distributed exposure lags were used to estimate the risk of CVD and asthma ED visits associated with short-term increases in daily PM2.5 concentrations, controlling for temporal and meteorological confounders. The models were run separately for three predefined time periods, which were selected based on the implementation of multiple emissions control programs (EARLY: 2005-2008; MIDDLE: 2009-2012; LATE: 2013-2016). Two-pollutant models with individual PM2.5 components and the remaining PM2.5 mass were also considered to assess the influence of changes in PM2.5 composition on changes in the risk of CVD and asthma ED visits associated with PM2.5 over time. RESULTS The relative risk of CVD ED visits associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in 4-day PM2.5 concentration (lag 0-3) was higher in the LATE period (rate ratio = 1.020, 95% confidence interval = [1.010, 1.030]) compared to the EARLY period (1.003, [0.996, 1.010]). In contrast, for asthma, relative risk estimates were largest in the EARLY period (1.018, [1.006, 1.029]), but smaller in the following periods. Similar temporal differences in relative risk estimates for CVD and asthma were observed among different age and season groups. No single component was identified as an obvious contributor to the changing risk estimates over time, and some components exhibited different temporal patterns in risk estimates from PM2.5 total mass, such as a decreased risk of CVD ED visits associated with sulfate over time. CONCLUSIONS Temporal changes in the risk of CVD and asthma ED visits associated with short-term increases in ambient PM2.5 concentrations were observed. These changes could be related to changes in PM2.5 composition (e.g., an increasing fraction of organic carbon and a decreasing fraction of sulfate in PM2.5). Other factors such as improvements in healthcare and differential exposure misclassification might also contribute to the changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhao Bi
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Rohan R D'Souza
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Q Rich
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Armistead G Russell
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Howard H Chang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefanie Ebelt
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wyatt LH, Peterson GCL, Wade TJ, Neas LM, Rappold AG. The contribution of improved air quality to reduced cardiovascular mortality: Declines in socioeconomic differences over time. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105430. [PMID: 31884412 PMCID: PMC7050207 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Major improvements in air quality since 1990, observed through reductions in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), have been associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality rates (CMR). However, it is not well understood whether the health benefit attributed to PM2.5 reductions has been similar across strata of socioeconomic deprivation (SED). Using mixed effect regression models, we estimated the PM2.5-related change in the CMR across 2,132 US counties in five SED strata between 1990 and 2010. The analysis included annual county CMR (deaths/100,000 person-year), annual county PM2.5 (μg/m3), and an index of county SED based on socioeconomic factors from the 1990 US Census. The contribution of PM2.5 reductions to decreased CMR varied by SED strata and over time. Yearly differences resulted from varying rates of PM2.5 reduction and because of the non-linear relationship between CMR and PM2.5 concentration. In early years, PM2.5-related CMR reductions were smallest in the most deprived counties compared to all other counties (range: 0.4-0.6 vs 0.7-1.6 fewer deaths/100,000 person-year), due to slower rates of PM2.5 reduction in these counties. However, in later years, PM2.5-related CMR reductions were highest counties with moderate to high deprivation, compared to counties with the least deprivation (range: 1.0-2.2 vs 0.5-0.9 fewer deaths/100,000 person-year) due to larger CMR reductions per decrease in PM2.5. We identified that CMR reductions related to air quality improvements have become more similar over time between socioeconomic strata.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren H Wyatt
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Geoffrey C L Peterson
- ORISE at National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory/Environmental Public Health Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Timothy J Wade
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Lucas M Neas
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Ana G Rappold
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kim H, Kim H, Lee JT. Effect of air pollutant emission reduction policies on hospital visits for asthma in Seoul, Korea; Quasi-experimental study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 132:104954. [PMID: 31400599 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To improve air quality and reduce adverse health effects due to air pollutants, Seoul metropolitan government has introduced emission reduction policies in Seoul metropolitan area since 2007. As a result, air quality in Seoul has improved. However, no study has reported whether emission reduction policies have affected respiratory morbidities in Korea. Thus, we aimed to assess an association between air pollutant emissions and ambient concentrations, and the effect of implemented emission reduction policies on asthma. The population of Daejeon, one of the metropolitan cities in Korea other than Seoul was used as a reference population to adjust for possible long-term background trend. Trends of air pollutant emissions, ambient concentrations, and hospital visit rates in Seoul and Daejeon were evaluated using descriptive statistics. To evaluate the possible beneficial effect of air pollutant emission reduction policies implemented since 2007 on hospital visits for asthma in Seoul, we conducted interrupted time-series analysis. As a result, we found evidence for the association between emission reductions and reduced ambient concentrations. Trends in hospital visit rates for asthma, which were previously increasing in Seoul, have decreased since the implementation of the policies. Prevented hospital visits cases for asthma in the total population and younger population (0-18 years) were estimated as 500,000 (11.3% of hospital visit cases if there was no intervention) cases and 320,000 (15.5% of hospital visit cases if there was no intervention) cases, respectively in Seoul. Our study provides evidence for the possible beneficial effect of emission reduction policies on hospital visits for asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyomi Kim
- BK21PLUS Program in 'Embodiment: Health -Society Interaction', Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Honghyok Kim
- BK21PLUS Program in 'Embodiment: Health -Society Interaction', Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Tae Lee
- BK21PLUS Program in 'Embodiment: Health -Society Interaction', Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; School of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|