Gender Differences in Association between Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in the Capital of the Green Lungs of Poland–Population-Based Study with 2,953,000 Person-Years of Follow-Up

Abstract

(1) Introduction: air pollution is considered to be one of the main risk factors for public health. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of approximately 500,000 citizens of the European Union (EU), including almost 5000 inhabitants of Poland every year. (2) Purpose: to assess the gender differences in the impact of air pollution on the mortality in the population of the city of Bialystok—the capital of the Green Lungs of Poland. (3) Materials and Methods: based on the data from the Central Statistical Office, the number—and causes of death—of Białystok residents in the period 2008–2017 were analyzed. The study utilized the data recorded by the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection station and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management during the analysis period. Time series regression with Poisson distribution was used in statistical analysis. (4) Results: A total of 34,005 deaths had been recorded, in which women accounted for 47.5%. The proportion of cardiovascular-related deaths was 48% (n = 16,370). An increase of SO2 concentration by 1-µg/m3 (relative risk (RR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.12; p = 0.005) and a 10 °C decrease of temperature (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.005) were related to an increase in the number of daily deaths. No gender differences in the impact of air pollution on mortality were observed. In the analysis of the subgroup of cardiovascular deaths, the main pollutant that was found to have an effect on daily mortality was particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5); the RR for 10-µg/m3 increase of PM2.5 was 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.12; p = 0.01), and this effect was noted only in the male population. (5) Conclusions: air quality and atmospheric conditions had an impact on the mortality of Bialystok residents. The main air pollutant that influenced the mortality rate was SO2, and there were no gender differences in the impact of this pollutant. In the male population, an increased exposure to PM2.5 concentration was associated with significantly higher cardiovascular mortality. These findings suggest that improving air quality, in particular, even with lower SO2 levels than currently allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, may benefit public health. Further studies on this topic are needed, but our results bring questions whether the recommendations concerning acceptable concentrations of air pollutants should be stricter, or is there a safe concentration of SO2 in the air at all.

Impact of Air Pollution on Global Burden of Disease in 2019

“…Literature has reported that females are more likely to die due to CVDs than primarily from air pollution compared to males. This was confirmed from a study conducted in Poland where it was found that the effect of SO 2 inhalation was more pronounced in males [31,32]. As a result, the inhalation of this pollutant could cause pulmonary inflammation, resulting in thrombosis, endothelial dysfunction, imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, increased arterial pressure, and ultimately death [32][33][34][35][36].…”

A Similar Lifetime CV Risk and a Similar Cardiometabolic Profile in the Moderate and High Cardiovascular Risk Populations: A Population-Based Study

“…CVD is still the leading cause of death and disability in the European population [ 26 ], as well as in Poland [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. It is often silent and may occur suddenly, underscoring the importance of prevention.…”

Air Pollution in Poland: A 2022 Narrative Review with Focus on Respiratory Diseases

“…In nearby Białystok it was shown that an increase in sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) concentration by 1 µg/m 3 was related to an increase in the number of daily deaths (RR 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.12). Interestingly, results for PM 2.5 and PM 10 were not significant [ 45 ], even though the change in PM 2.5 concentration was shown to have the greatest strength of association with daily mortality rates [ 16 , 17 ]. However, a rise of PM 2.5 concentration by 10 µg/m 3 was found to be a risk factor for increased cardiovascular deaths (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.12) [ 45 ].…”

“…Interestingly, results for PM 2.5 and PM 10 were not significant [ 45 ], even though the change in PM 2.5 concentration was shown to have the greatest strength of association with daily mortality rates [ 16 , 17 ]. However, a rise of PM 2.5 concentration by 10 µg/m 3 was found to be a risk factor for increased cardiovascular deaths (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02–1.12) [ 45 ].…”