title: Temperature as a modifier of the effects of fine particulate matter on acute mortality in Hong Kong.
abstract: Interactions between particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and temperature on mortality have not been well studied, and results are difficult to synthesize. We aimed to assess modification of temperature on the association between PM2.5 and cause-specific mortality by stratifying temperature into low, medium, and high stratum in Hong Kong, using data from 1999 to 2011. The mortality effects of PM2.5 were stronger in low temperature stratum than those in high. The excess risk (%) per 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 at lag 0-1 in low temperature stratum were 0.94% (95% confidence interval: 0.65, 1.24) for all natural, 0.88% (0.38, 1.37) for cardiovascular, and 1.15% (0.51, 1.79) for respiratory mortality. We found statistically significant interaction of PM2.5 and temperature between low and high temperature stratum for all natural mortality. Our results suggested that temperature might modify mortality effects of PM2.5 in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Shengzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Peihua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: King-Pan
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Chit-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: thach@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Thuan-Quoc
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Thach
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Fine particulate matter; Hong Kong; Interaction; Mortality; Temperature