Fine particle air pollution and mortality: importance of specific sources and chemical species.
BACKGROUND
While exposure to ambient fine particles <2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) has well-established health effects, there is limited quantitative evidence that links specific sources of PM2.5 with those effects. This study was designed to examine the risks of exposure to chemical species and source-specific PM2.5 mass on mortality in Seoul, Korea, a highly populated city.


METHODS
We compare daily mortality counts with PM2.5 chemical speciation data collected every 3 days, as well as nine sources of PM2.5 mass resolved by a positive matrix factorization receptor model, from March 2003 through November 2007. A Poisson generalized linear model incorporating natural splines was used to evaluate associations of PM2.5 chemical species and sources with mortality.


RESULTS
PM2.5 mass and several chemical species were associated with mortality. Organic carbon, elemental carbon, and lead were associated with mortality outcomes when using multipollutant models adjusted for other chemical species levels. Source-apportioned PM2.5 derived from mobile sources (ie, gasoline and diesel emissions) and biomass burning was associated with respiratory mortality and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. There were moderate associations of industry and of roadway emissions with cardiovascular mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Local combustion sources may be particularly important contributors to PM2.5, leading to adverse health effects.
From the aEnvironmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI; bWisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI; cHealth Insurance Policy Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Seoul, Korea; dDepartment of Environmental Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; and eDepartment of Public Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Jongbae
J
Heo
James J
JJ
Schauer
Okhee
O
Yi
Domyung
D
Paek
Ho
H
Kim
Seung-Muk
SM
Yi
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D066106:Seoul; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014505:Urban Population
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter