Particulate air pollution and cardiorespiratory hospital admissions in a temperate Australian city: A case-crossover analysis.
BACKGROUND
Although ambient air pollution exposure has been linked with poor health in many parts of the world, no previous study has investigated the effect on morbidity in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between particulate matter (PM) and hospitalisations, including respiratory and cardiovascular admissions in Adelaide, South Australia.


METHODS
For the study period September 2001 to October 2007, daily counts of all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions were collected, as well as daily air quality data including concentrations of particulates, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Visibility codes for present weather conditions identified days when airborne dust or smoke was observed. The associations between PM and hospitalisations were estimated using time-stratified case-crossover analyses controlling for covariates including temperature, relative humidity, other pollutants, day of the week and public holidays.


RESULTS
Mean PM(10) concentrations were higher in the warm season, whereas PM(2.5) concentrations were higher in the cool season. Hospital admissions were associated with PM(10) in the cool season and with PM(2.5) in both seasons. No significant effect of PM on all-age respiratory admissions was detected, however cardiovascular admissions were associated with both PM(2.5) and PM(10) in the cool season with the highest effects for PM(2.5) (4.48%, 95% CI: 0.74%, 8.36% increase per 10μg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5)).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that despite the city's relatively low levels of air pollution, PM concentrations are associated with increases in morbidity in Adelaide. Further studies are needed to investigate the sources of PM which may be contributing to the higher cool season effects.
Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Alana
A
Hansen
Peng
P
Bi
Monika
M
Nitschke
Dino
D
Pisaniello
Philip
P
Ryan
Thomas
T
Sullivan
Adrian G
AG
Barnett
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D052638:Particulate Matter