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Rittner R, Flanagan E, Oudin A, Malmqvist E. Health Impacts from Ambient Particle Exposure in Southern Sweden. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17145064. [PMID: 32674378 PMCID: PMC7400131 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A health impact assessment (HIA) is an important tool for making informed decisions regarding the design and evaluation of environmental interventions. In this study, we performed a quantitative HIA for the population of Scania (1,247,993), the southernmost county in Sweden, in 2016. The impact of annual mean concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), modeled at their home residences for the year 2011, on mortality, asthma, dementia, autism spectrum disorders, preeclampsia and low birth weight (LBW) was explored. Concentration–response (C-R) functions were taken from epidemiological studies reporting meta-analyses when available, and otherwise from single epidemiological studies. The average level of PM2.5 experienced by the study population was 11.88 µg/m3. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated to cause 9–11% of cases of LBW and 6% of deaths from natural causes. Locally produced PM2.5 alone contributed to 2–9% of the cases of diseases and disorders investigated. Reducing concentrations to a maximum of 10 µg/m3 would, according to our estimations, reduce mortality by 3% and reduce cases of LBW by 2%. Further analyses of separate emission sources’ distinct effects were also presented. Reduction of air pollution levels in the study area would, as expected, have a substantial effect on both mortality and adverse health outcomes. Reductions should be aimed for by local authorities and on national and even international levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Rittner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; (E.F.); (A.O.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-4617-3189
| | - Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; (E.F.); (A.O.); (E.M.)
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; (E.F.); (A.O.); (E.M.)
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; (E.F.); (A.O.); (E.M.)
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Löfvendahl S, Schelin MEC, Jöud A. The value of the Skåne Health-care Register: Prospectively collected individual-level data for population-based studies. Scand J Public Health 2019; 48:56-63. [PMID: 31814536 DOI: 10.1177/1403494819868042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to examine the population-based Skåne Health-care Register (SHR) regarding feasibility for scientific research and also strengths and weaknesses. Methods: To analyse the feasibility of the SHR, we performed a bibliographic search for peer-reviewed articles based on SHR data from 2000 to 2018. To analyse strengths and weaknesses, we used original SHR data about coverage and validity. Results: We identified 58 articles based on SHR data, covering different study designs and disorders. Most studies focused on musculoskeletal disorders with a cohort design. The majority of all consultations recorded in the SHR have an assigned diagnosis. However, this differs between the levels of care and between types of consultation. For inpatient care, the proportion of consultations with an assigned diagnosis was close to 100% between 1998 and 2017. The proportion of consultations with an assigned diagnosis was lowest within primary care, although the proportion markedly increased in 2004 when the prerequisite for consultation reimbursement was linked to the requirement for an assigned diagnosis. Limitations are that the SHR does not cover health-care provided within nursing homes and equivalent facilities or treatments received by the population of Skåne outside the region. Conclusions: The SHR may be used as a reliable data source for analyses of clinical changes and improvements. Extended use of the SHR in a research context may highlight important shortcomings within the register and thus serve as a way of indirect quality control. To enhance the use of the SHR further, better harmonisation between registers, within and outside of the region and internationally, is of crucial importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Löfvendahl
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Orthopaedics, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Sweden.,Health Technology Assessment Skåne, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Maria E C Schelin
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Sweden.,Department for Research and Development, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Anna Jöud
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Orthopaedics, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Sweden.,Department for Research and Development, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.,Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine Lund, Lund University, Sweden
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Arnetz BB, Arnetz J, Harkema JR, Morishita M, Slonager K, Sudan S, Jamil H. Neighborhood air pollution and household environmental health as it relates to respiratory health and healthcare utilization among elderly persons with asthma. J Asthma 2019; 57:28-39. [PMID: 30810414 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2018.1545856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The study investigated the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5; <2.5 μm in diameter), indoor environment, pulmonary function, and healthcare utilization in a vulnerable group of elderly persons with asthma. We hypothesized that environmental conditions were associated with adverse pulmonary health outcomes. Methods: The study involved elderly (n = 76; mean age 64.6 years; 48 women) vulnerable persons in Detroit, Michigan, USA, with physician-diagnosed asthma. Exposure variables included measured outdoor PM2.5, self-rated outdoor and household environmental pollutants. Outcome variables were self-rated and measured pulmonary function, and asthma-related healthcare utilization. Results: Mean ambient PM2.5 concentrations during the study was 14.14 ± (S.D. 6.36) µg/m3 during the summer and 14.20 (6.33) during the winter (p = 0.95). In multiple regression analyses, adjusting for age and gender, mean 6-month concentration of PM2.5 was related to shortness of breath (SHOB; standardized β = 0.26, p = 0.02) and inversely with self-rated respiratory health (SRRH; β = 0.28, p = 0.02). However, PM2.5 did not predict lung function (FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC). However, PM2.5 was related to use of asthma controller drugs (β = 0.38, p = 0.001). Participants' air pollution ratings predicted total healthcare utilization (β = 0.33, p = 0.01). Conclusions: In elderly persons with asthma, living near heavy industry and busy highways, objective and perceived environmental pollution relate to participants' respiratory health and healthcare utilization. Importantly, air pollution might increase use of asthma controller drugs containing corticosteroids with implication for elderly persons' risk to develop osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bengt B Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.,Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Judy Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.,Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jack R Harkema
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Masako Morishita
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Kathleen Slonager
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Michigan Chapter, Franklin, MI, USA
| | - Sukhesh Sudan
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Hikmet Jamil
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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