Air pollutants and asthma patient visits: Indication of source influence
Huibin Guo1, Sijing Huang2, Minxuan Chen1
1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Background:
Sources of air pollutants are significant factors for adverse health effect. Few current studies explored the linking of sources influence and ambient pollutants to asthma patient visits in Shanghai, China.
Objectives:
This study explored the associations between short-term exposures to ambient pollutants and asthma morbidity with terrestrial and marine source influence in Shanghai.
Methods:
Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore the association of daily patient visits and ambient pollutants. These analyses were calculated in R statistical software in mgcv package. PSCF modeling was used to locate potential source areas contributing to the concentrations of pollutants.
Results:
We found that per IQR of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 and CO in terrestrial source were associated with an increase of 6.63% (95% CI: -0.27% to 14%), 6.48% (95% CI: 0.06% to 13.3%), 1.68% (95% CI: -2.68% to 6.24%), 2.81% (95% CI: -1.42% to 7.22%), -0.60% (95% CI: -5.94% to 5.04%) and 16.6% (95% CI: 8.68% to 25.2%), respectively in asthma patient visits. Per IQR of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 and CO in marine source were associated with an increase of 5.34% (95% CI: 0.42% to 10.5%), 3.84% (95% CI: 0.08% to 7.74%), 3.21% (95% CI: -0.92% to 7.52%), 2.58% (95% CI: -1.02% to 6.30%), 1.42% (95% CI: -3.10% to 6.15%) and 8.81% (95% CI: 2.56% to 15.4%). The PSCF show all of the pollutants except O3 mainly come from terrestrial during observation. We also found that all of the pollutants except NO2 displayed the highest effect in the spring for relative risk of asthma morbidity.
Conclusions:
Ambient air pollutants that cause an increase in asthma patient visits, such as PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and CO are mainly produced from terrestrial sources, while O3 is primarily from marine sources. The association of ambient pollutants and asthma patient visits is closely related with seasons, especially with spring. PM2.5 and CO are major air pollutants increasing the relative risk of asthma patient visits in Shanghai.
Related Concept Videos
02:39Indicators
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include: