title: The burden of air pollution on years of life lost in Beijing, China, 2004-08: retrospective regression analysis of daily deaths.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To better understand the burden of air pollution on deaths, we examined the effects of air pollutants on years of life lost (YLL) in Beijing, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective regression analysis using daily time series.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 urban districts in Beijing, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 515 deaths (48 802 male, 31 713 female) recorded by the Beijing death classification system during 2004-08.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between daily YLL and ambient air pollutants (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), PM10, SO2, and NO2), after adjusting for long term trends, seasonality, day of the week, and weather conditions. We also examined mortality risk related to air pollutants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean concentrations of daily PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and NO2 were 105.1 μg/m(3), 144.6 μg/m(3), 48.6 μg/m(3), and 64.2 μg/m(3), respectively. All air pollutants had significant effects on years of life lost when we used single pollutant models. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 was related to YLL increases of 15.8, 15.8, 16.2, and 15.1 years, respectively. The effects of air pollutants on YLL appeared acutely and lasted for two days (lag 0-1); these effects associated with an IQR increase in PM2.5 were greater in women than men (11.1 (95% confidence interval 4.7 to 17.5) v 4.7 (-2.9 to 12.3) YLL) and in people aged up to 65 years than those older than 65 years (12.0 (2.9 to 21) v 3.8 (-0.9 to 8.6) YLL). The mortality risk associated with an IQR increase in PM2.5 was greater for people older than 65 years (2.5% (95% confidence interval 0.6% to 4.5%) increase of mortality) than those aged up to 65 years (0.7% (-0.8% to 2.2%)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YLL provides a complementary measure for examining the effect of air pollutants on mortality. Increased YLL are associated with increased air pollution. This study highlights the need to reduce air pollution in Beijing, China, to protect the health of the population.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors: Yuming
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Shanshan
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Zhaoxing
authors: Z
authors: Tian
authors: Xiaochuan
authors: X
authors: Pan
authors: Jinliang
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants