Contribution of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Fused Surfaces in Assessing Risk of Respiratory-Cardiovascular Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits in Baltimore

摘要

Advancements in air pollution monitoring using (satellite) remote sensing of fine particulate matter (i.e., Aerosol Optical Depth PM2.5 [AOD PM2.5]), along with ground-based air quality monitors and air quality models have been used together in Hierarchical Bayesian Models (HBMs) to create a 'fused' air quality model surface. This study examined Baltimore, Maryland during 2004 - 2006, and complements a previous study conducted in the New York City metropolitan area, presented at the 82nd NEHA Annual Educational Conference (AEC), (Weber et al., 2016: DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.012; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935116302961). The objective was to determine if combining these three data sources enhanced understanding of the influence of PM2.5 concentration on the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study used a case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression analysis to determine the contribution of PM2.5 to asthma related emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations for asthma, myocardial infarction (Ml), and heart failure (HF) in Baltimore. The analysis used five HBM air pollution concentration surfaces. Four surfaces contained AOD PM2.5 measurements, monitor measurements, and air quality model estimates, and one surface represented the 'baseline' (monitor measurements and air quality model estimates only). The Baltimore study area covered an 11 (north-south) by 9 (east-west) Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ) 12 km grid region. Of the 99 CMAQ grids in Baltimore, 17 grids contained PM2.5 air pollution monitors. There were two major differences between the previous New York City study and the Baltimore study. First, there were more asthma. Ml and HF cases in New York City than in Baltimore, which was expected, since New York City's population is larger than the population of the state of Maryland. Second, the mean PM2.5 values (in u.g/m3), for all five surfaces, were significantly higher in Baltimore than in New York City.