title: PM₁₀ exposure and non-accidental mortality in Asian populations: a meta-analysis of time-series and case-crossover studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association between particulate matter less than 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) exposure and non-accidental mortality in Asian populations by meta-analysis, using both time-series and case-crossover analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the 819 published studies searched from PubMed and EMBASE using key words related to PM₁₀ exposure and non-accidental mortality in Asian countries, 8 time-series and 4 case-crossover studies were selected for meta-analysis after exclusion by selection criteria. We obtained the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of non-accidental mortality per 10 µg/m³ increase of daily PM₁₀ from each study. We used Q statistics to test the heterogeneity of the results among the different studies and evaluated for publication bias using Begg funnel plot and Egger test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testing for heterogeneity showed significance (p<0.001); thus, we applied a random-effects model. RR (95% CI) per 10 µg/m³ increase of daily PM₁₀ for both the time-series and case-crossover studies combined, time-series studies relative risk only, and case-crossover studies only, were 1.0047 (1.0033 to 1.0062), 1.0057 (1.0029 to 1.0086), and 1.0027 (1.0010 to 1.0043), respectively. The non-significant Egger test suggested that this analysis was not likely to have a publication bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a significant positive association between PM₁₀ exposure and non-accidental mortality among Asian populations. Continued investigations are encouraged to contribute to the health impact assessment and public health management of air pollution in Asian countries.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hye Yin
authors: HY
authors: Park
authors: Sanghyuk
authors: S
authors: Bae
authors: Yun-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D044466:Asian People; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009026:Mortality; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Asia; Meta-analysis; Non-accidental mortality; PM