title: Characteristics of the Exposure-Response Relationship of Particulate Matter and Mortality: A Time Series Analysis of 7 Cities in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the characteristics of the exposure-response relationship of particulate matter concentration and mortality on the multicity scale in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Generalized additive models were used to explore the short-term effects of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10) on mortality while adjusting for confounding variables, including seasonal periodicity, air temperature, relative humidity, day-of-the-week effect, and holiday effect. Additionally, possible PM10 thresholds for daily mortality were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In most cities, the relationships of PM10 concentration and daily cause-specific mortalities were all nearly linear when PM10 concentration was below 150 μg/m3. The estimated PM10 thresholds associated with nonaccidental and cardiovascular mortalities were 80 μg/m3 and 45 μg/m3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicated that, at least in China, the PM10 pollutant has threshold effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (Dr Zeng, Dr Li, and Mr Pan), School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing and Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Dr Zeng, Mr Zhao, and Ms Jiang), China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Guoxing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter