PM2.5 exposure on daily cardio-respiratory mortality in Lima, Peru, from 2010 to 2016.

Abstract

Background: There have been no studies of air pollution and mortality in Lima, Peru. We evaluate whether daily environmental PM 2.5 exposure is associated to respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in Lima during 2010 to 2016. Methods: We analyzed 86,970 deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Lima from 2010-2016. Estimated daily PM 2.5 was assigned based on district of residence. Poisson regression was used to estimate associations between daily district-level PM 2.5 exposures and daily counts of deaths. Results: An increase in 10 µg/m 3 PM 2.5 on the day before was significantly associated with daily all-cause (respiratory and circulatory) mortality (RR 1.029; CI 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.05) across all ages and in the age group over 65 (RR 1.04; 95% CI: 1.005 – 1.09) which included 74% of all deaths. We also observed associations with circulatory deaths for all age groups (RR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.11), and those over 65 (RR 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 - 1.12). A borderline significant trend was seen (RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.99 – 1.06; p = 0.10) for respiratory deaths in persons aged over 65. Trends were driven by the highest quintile of exposure. Conclusions: PM 2.5 exposure is associated with daily all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in Lima, especially for older people. Our data suggest that the existing limits on air pollution exposure are too high.

Climate change and antibiotic resistance: a deadly combination

“…A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that particulate counts result in increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality both in the short term and the long term. [47][48][49] In addition, direct exposure to fire can result in permanent lung-scarring and lead to bronchiectasis. 50 Patients with bronchiectasis are known to harbor antibiotic-resistant infections bacteria 51 and to have multiple infections/exacerbations, another tributary to the common final pathway linking climate change with antibiotic resistance.…”