title: Effect of photochemical smog associated with synoptic weather patterns on cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions in metropolitan Taipei.
abstract: This study focuses on the relationship between photochemical smog (PS) (hourly ozone conc. >100 ppb), PS-related diseases, and the synoptic weather patterns during 2005-2009 in metropolitan Taipei. The results show that compared to respiratory ailments (ICD code 460-519) and asthma (ICD code 493), cardiovascular ailments (ICD code 390-459) were more clearly influenced by PS events. On the PS event day, the number of admissions of babies, children, and adults increased by 0.04 [95% CI 0.01-0.06], 0.03 [95% CI 0.00-0.07], and 1.12 [95% CI 0.36-1.89] (P < 0.05), respectively. The investigation showed that more than 70% of the PS events were associated primarily with the peripheral circulation of typhoons, Pacific pressure, and discrete Pacific pressure. PS events are a threat to public health. To avoid the ill effects of air pollution, residents should be informed about the daily weather patterns and air quality.
authors.affiliation: Centre for General Education, National Taipei College of Business, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. d89228001@ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012905:Smog / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D012905:Smog; D010126:Ozone