title: The impact of communicating information about air pollution events on public health.
abstract: Short-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study investigated the relationship between emergency hospital admissions for asthma, COPD and episodes of poor air quality in an English city (Southampton) from 2008-2013. The city's council provides a forecasting service for poor air quality to individuals with respiratory disease to reduce preventable admissions to hospital and this has been evaluated. Trends in nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter concentrations were related to hospital admissions data using regression analysis. The impacts of air quality on emergency admissions were quantified using the relative risks associated with each pollutant. Seasonal and weekly trends were apparent for both air pollution and hospital admissions, although there was a weak relationship between the two. The air quality forecasting service proved ineffective at reducing hospital admissions. Improvements to the health forecasting service are necessary to protect the health of susceptible individuals, as there is likely to be an increasing need for such services in the future.
authors: Centre for Environment Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Lanchester Building, University Rd., Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: McLaren
authors: Centre for Environment Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Lanchester Building, University Rd., Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK. Electronic address: idw@soton.ac.uk.
authors: I D
authors: ID
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010343:Patient Admission; D011634:Public Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Air pollution; Asthma; Coastal city; Forecasting; Nitrogen dioxide; Ozone; Particulates; Pollution events; Respiratory health