Short-term association between air pollution and emergency room admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Nis, Serbia.
The present study assesses the short-term association between black smoke (BS) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels in urban air and the daily number of emergency room admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Nis, Serbia. Generalised linear models extending Poisson regression were fitted controlling for time trend, seasonal variations, days of the week, temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, precipitation, rainfall, snowfall, overcast, and wind velocity. The emergency room admissions for all ages for COPD were significantly associated with previous-day level of BS and lag 0-2 (1,60% and 2,26% increase per 10 microg/m3, respectively). After controlling for SO2, single lagged (lag 1 and lag 2) as well as mean lagged values of BS (up to lag 0-3) were significantly associated with COPD emergencies. No effect was found for SO2, even after controlling for black smoke. The present findings support the conclusion that current levels of ambient BS may have an effect on the respiratory health of susceptible persons.
Public Health Institute Nis, Serbia. suzana-m@bankerinter.net
Suzana
S
Milutinović
Dragana
D
Nikić
Ljiljana
L
Stosić
Aleksandra
A
Stanković
Dragan
D
Bogdanović
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; D055771:Serbia; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014887:Weather
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012906:Smoke; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide