City-scale assessment of long-term air quality impacts on the respiratory and cardiovascular health

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of the urban environment on human health is a contemporary subject of environmental research. Air pollution is often considered a leading environmental driver. However, a plethora of other factors within the urban exposome may be involved. At the same time, the resolution of spatial data is also an important facet to consider. Generally, systematic tools for accurate health risk assessment in the urban environment are missing or are not implemented.MethodsThe long-term impact of air quality (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, benzene, and SO2) on respiratory and cardiovascular health was assessed with a log-linear model. We used the most accurate health data in high city scale spatial resolution over the period 2010 to 2018. Selected external exposome parameters were also included in the analysis.ResultsStatistically significant associations between air pollution and the health of the urban population were found. The strongest association was between benzene and the incidence of bronchitis in the adult population [RR 1.552 95% CI (1.415–1.704) per 0.5 μg/m3 change in benzene concentration]. A similar relation was observed between NO2 and the same health condition [RR 1.483 95% CI (1.227–1.792) per 8.9 μg/m3 of change in NO2]. Other weaker associations were also found between asthma in children and PMs, NO2, or benzene. Cardiovascular-related hospitalizations in the general population were linked with NO2 [RR 1.218 95% CI (1.119–1.325) per 9.7 μg/m3 change in NO2]. The remaining pollutants were slightly less but still significantly associated with cardiovascular-related hospitalizations.ConclusionOur findings are mostly highly statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) and are in line with current literature on the adverse effects of air pollution on the human population. The results highlight the need for continual improvements in air quality. We propose the implementation of this approach as a systematic tool for the investigation of possible health risks over a long period of time. However, further research involving other variables is an essential step toward understanding the complex urban exposome and its implications for human health. An increase in data spatial resolution is especially important in this respect as well as for improving city health risk management.

Social and environmental stressors of cardiometabolic health

“…For the complete assessment of the effect of air pollution on cardiometabolic health, it would be desirable to also consider the effect of PM 10 and PM 2.5 , however, the variance in their exposure was insufficient, with an interquartile range of 2.90 and 3.75 μg/m 3 , respectively. Similar variance has been observed in previous study from Brno 36 .…”

The Influence of Fine Particulate Matter and Cold Weather on Emergency Room Interventions for Childhood Asthma

“…Air pollutants contribute to oxidative injury in the airways, leading to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, remodeling, and increased vulnerability to viral infections, exacerbating asthma [4]. After the adjustment of built-up area indicators and socioeconomic indicators, researchers focused on associations with 5-year mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), fine particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ), particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 µm (PM 10 ), and benzene in the city of Brno, Czech Republic [5]. PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 significantly impact pediatric respiratory events, including pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, and acute pharyngitis, in southern Taiwan [6].…”

Daily Exposure to Environmental Volatile Organic Compounds Triggers Oxidative Damage: Evidence from a Large-Scale Survey in China

“…Linking exposure to adverse consequences holds significance in assessing exposure and identifying potential health hazards . Some VOCs exhibit mutagenicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. , Epidemiological studies have shown that VOC exposure is associated with various respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and asthma. , Moreover, exposure to VOCs can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) or inhibit antioxidant activity, resulting in oxidative stress, which is the underlying mechanism for many noninfectious diseases. , Oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs) are widely used to detect oxidative stress damage in humans. Nucleic acid is an important target of ROS attack, which has been found to play an important role in the initiation, promotion, and development of diseases .…”