Burden of Mortality Due to Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution (PM2.5) in Interior and Northern BC

Abstract

Objectives: Our objective was to estimate the burden of mortality attributable to long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) among adults in two rural regions of British Columbia, the Interior and the North, in order to provide information for public health professionals setting health priorities. Methods: We used the standard method to calculate the fraction of all-cause mortality among adults (≥30 years old) attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM 2.5 as described in the World Health Organization global burden of disease study. PM 2.5 concentration was either locally measured using tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) continuous monitors or estimated for unmonitored cities. For the base case, we used a conservative PM 2.5 threshold (5.0 ug/m 3); for sensitivity analysis, we set the threshold to estimate all mortality attributable to anthropogenic PM 2.5 (3.1 ug/m 3). We conducted sensitivity analysis for PM 2.5 concentrations estimated in unmonitored cities. Results and Conclusions: Mean annual PM 2.5 concentration ranged from 3.1 to 7.4 ug/m 3 across local health areas in Northern and Interior BC. Sixty percent of the adult population lived in monitored regions. PM 2.5 was estimated to cause 0.20% of all-cause mortality among adults (16 deaths/year). Anthropogenic PM 2.5 was estimated to cause 0.93% of all-cause mortality among adults (74 deaths/year). Estimates were sensitive to both PM 2.5 threshold and estimated PM 2.5 in unmonitored communities. This demonstrates that ambient PM 2.5 air pollution does have an important mortality burden, even in a region with relatively low PM 2.5 concentrations.

The Impact of Organic Extracts of Seasonal PM2.5 on Primary Human Lung Epithelial Cells and Their Chemical Characterization

“…Both PAHs and n-alkanes were the most relevant components of PM 2.5 for in ammation, aging and macroautophagy activation. The ndings support the idea that the chemical constituents of PM 2.5 are more important than the level of PM 2.5 mass concentrations and even low concentration of PM 2.5 may have adverse impacts on the public health [6,57,58].…”

The impact of organic extracts of seasonal PM2.5 on primary human lung epithelial cells and their chemical characterization

“…Both PAHs and n-alkanes were the most relevant components of PM 2.5 for inflammation, aging, and macroautophagy activation. Our findings support the idea that the chemical constituents of PM 2.5 are more important than the mass concentrations of PM 2.5 , and even low concentrations of PM 2.5 may have adverse effects on public health (Feng et al 2016 ; Elliott and Copes 2011 ; Park et al 2018 ).…”

Urban-rural differences in daily time-activity patterns, occupational activity and housing characteristics

“…In rural areas, ambient air quality is impacted by local activities including wood burning [ 31 , 32 ]. It has been estimated that woodsmoke accounts for as little as 10 % and up to 70 % of provincial fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) emissions in Canada [ 15 ].…”

“…Despite relatively low ambient levels of PM 2.5 in rural areas, recent studies have associated PM 2.5 with adverse health effects. 0.93 % of all-cause mortality among adults was attributed to anthropogenic PM 2.5 (from forestry-related industry, wood burning stoves, and traffic) in rural British Columbia [ 31 ]. In a recent national Canadian study, in which 27 % of subjects lived in rural areas, significant associations of PM 2.5 with non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality were reported [ 33 ].…”