Mortality risk effects of ozone and meteorological factors: a 10-year time-series study

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is increasingly becoming the dominant urban air pollutant in China, posing significant public health risks that are exacerbated by meteorological conditions. A clear understanding of how O₃-related health effects are modified by atmospheric factors is crucial for targeted risk mitigation.

This ten-year time-series study (2013-2022) was conducted in Taiyuan, China. We analyzed data on daily O₃ concentrations, meteorological factors, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The analysis employed Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to assess the lagged effects of O₃ exposure on mortality and to investigate the interactions between O₃ and key atmospheric determinants, including temperature, sunshine duration, and season.

The study revealed distinct patterns of O₃-related mortality risk modified by meteorological conditions. The 10-year average daily O₃ concentration was 92.92 μg/m³. O₃ exposure significantly contributed to all-cause, respiratory, and circulatory mortality with lagged effects. While atmospheric pressure, sunshine duration, temperature, and season all influenced the O₃-mortality relationship, the effect was primarily modified through significant interactions with sunshine duration, season, and temperature. These interactive health risks were more pronounced among females and the older adults.

Our study provides strong evidence that O₃ increases the risk of all-cause, respiratory and circulatory mortality in the population. In addition, there were interactions between meteorological factors and O₃, primarily involving sunshine duration, season and temperature.