Application of DALYs in measuring health effect of ambient air pollution: a case study in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of ambient air pollution on human health and the subsequent disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in Shanghai.


METHODS
We used epidemiology-based exposure-response functions to calculate the attributable number of cases due to air pollution in Shanghai in 2000, and then we estimated the corresponding DALYs lost in Shanghai based on unit DALYs values of the health consequences.


RESULTS
Ambient air pollution caused 103,064 DALYs lost in Shanghai in 2000. Among all the health endpoints, premature deaths and chronic bronchitis predominated in the value of total DALYs lost.


CONCLUSIONS
The air pollution levels have an adverse effect on the general population health and strengthen the rationale for limiting the levels of air pollution in outdoor air in Shanghai.
Zhang
Yun-Hui
YH
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Chen
Chang-Hong
CH
Chen
Guo-Hai
GH
Song
Gui-Xiang
GX
Chen
Bing-Heng
BH
Fu
Qing-Yan
QY
Kan
Hai-Dong
HD
D000397:Air Pollution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D014504:Urban Health