Association between gaseous pollutants and emergency ambulance dispatches for asthma in Chengdu, China: a time-stratified case-crossover study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe association between concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and emergency ambulance dispatches (EADs) for asthma was explored in the central Sichuan Basin of southwestern China for the first time.MethodsEADs for asthma were collected from the Chengdu First-Aid Command Center. Pollutant concentrations were collected from 24 municipal environmental monitoring centers and including SO2, NO2, CO, daily 8-h mean concentrations of O3 (O3-8 h), and particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5). The climatic data were collected from the Chengdu Municipal Meteorological Bureau. All data were collected from years spanning 2013–2017. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to analyze the data.ResultsAfter controlling for temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure, IQR increases in SO2 (13 μg/m3), NO2 (17 μg/m3), and CO (498 μg/m3) were associated with 18.8%, 11.5%, and 3.1% increases in EADs for asthma, respectively. The associations were strongest for EADs and SO2, NO2, and CO levels with 3-, 5-, and 1-day lags, respectively.ConclusionsThis study provides additional data to the limited body of literature for potential health risks arising from ambient gaseous pollutants. The results of the study suggest that increased concentrations of SO2, NO2, and CO were positively associated with emergency ambulance dispatches for asthma in Chengdu, China. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of individual air pollutants on asthma.

Sulfur dioxide and exacerbation of allergic respiratory diseases: A time-stratified case-crossover study

“…Our results that statistically significant associations were found between exposure to SO 2 and ED visits for allergic diseases are in agreement with previously published studies in adults[ 18 20 21 ] and children. [ 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ] However, several authors failed to detect any association between SO 2 and asthma ED visits/hospitalizations.…”

“…found that after adjustment for weather conditions, IQR increase in SO 2 of 13 μg/m 3 was associated with an increase of 18.8% in emergency ambulance dispatches for asthma. [ 18 ] The observed effect of the SO 2 on asthma ED visits/hospitalization is biologically plausible. It has been observed that SO 2 stimulates airway inflammation and eosinophilia and induces bronchospasm and airway fibrosis in asthma.…”

Prevalence and risk factors of pre-sick building syndrome: characteristics of indoor environmental and individual factors

“…This may increase the number of patients with these conditions in the future. In addition, further attention should be paid to the relationship between other diseases and chemicals in the air, not just "SBS" and "MCS" [38][39][40]. Analysis using individual characteristics as adjustment variables (model 1) revealed the significant association between the pre-SBS group and a history of "allergic rhinitis," a history of "mental illness," and the presence or absence of an "interest in air quality and odor."…”

The association between air pollution parameters and emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: a time-series analysis

“…In previous studies, the most important pollutants triggering acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation were PM 2.5 or PM 10 (Buszman et al 2020;Kwon et al 2019;Tian et al 2018). It was found in other studies that an increase of 10 μg/m 3 PM 2.5 caused a 0.56% increase in hypertension hospitalizations and acute aortic dissection hospitalizations of 3.38%, hypertension hospitalizations for a 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 (Chen et al 2019(Chen et al , 2020. A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Vietnam reported that every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 increased by 0.5-4% (Phung et al 2016).…”