Fine particulate air pollution and its components in association with mortality in Athens, Greece

摘要

Background and Aims: Recent epidemiological research on the adverse health effects of particulate air pollution is focused on the ionic and carbonaceous composition of the particles in order to identify the most toxic components. We investigated the short term effects of fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ＜lμg/m3 (PM1), and of selected components of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ＜2.5μg/m3 (PM2.5) on total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality for all ages as well as for those above and below 75 years of age in Athens, Greece during the hot season in 2007-2009. Methods: Concentrations of PM1 and PM2.5 ionic and carbonaceouscomponents were available for 1/3/2008 - 5/8/2008 from four cites in the greater Athens area. Using prediction models we estimated the concentrations for the corresponding periods in 2007 and 2009. The associations were investigated using Poisson regression models allowing for overdispersion, controlling for seasonality, weather, day of the week, and holiday effects. Results: A 6.2 μg/m3 increase in PM1 same day levels was associated with a 2.30% increase (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25%, 4.38%) in the number of daily deaths. Increases in two days' concentration of sulfate, ammonium, elemental and organic carbon were associated with statistically significant increases in deaths. The highest increase in mortality was associated with elemental carbon concentrations (4.77% (95%CI: 1.63%, 8.00%), for an interquartile increase). Similar results were observed for mortality among those ＞75 years and for cardiovascular mortality for all ages, while the effects on the younger age group did not reach statistical significance. Only elemental carbon had a statistical significant adverse association with respiratory mortality all ages. Conclusions: Our findings, though limited by the small time period analyzed and the imputation of the particles indices, indicate statistically significant health effects of elemental carbon on mortality.