title: PM2.5 constituents and hospital emergency-room visits in Shanghai, China.
abstract: Although ambient PM2.5 has been linked to adverse health effects, the chemical constituents that cause harm are largely unclear. Few prior studies in a developing country have reported the health impacts of PM2.5 constituents. In this study, we examined the short-term association between PM2.5 constituents and emergency room visits in Shanghai, China. We measured daily concentrations of PM2.5, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and eight water-soluble ions between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. We analyzed the data using overdispersed generalized linear Poisson models. During our study period, the mean daily average concentration of PM2.5 in Shanghai was 55 μg/m(3). Major contributors to PM2.5 mass included OC, EC, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium. For a 1-day lag, an interquartile range increment in PM2.5 mass (36.47 μg/m(3)) corresponded to 0.57% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13%, 1.01%] increase of emergency room visits. In all the three models used, we found significant positive associations of emergency room visits with OC and EC. Our findings suggest that PM2.5 constituents from the combustion of fossil fuel (e.g., OC and EC) may have an appreciable influence on the health impact attributable to PM2.5.
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of the Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences , Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weibing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shengrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Renjie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kan
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon