title: Emergency room visits associated with particulate concentration and Asian dust storms in metropolitan Taipei.
abstract: This study evaluated risks of emergency room visits (ERV) for all causes, circulatory diseases, and respiratory diseases associated with concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and Asian dust storms (ADS) from 2000 to 2008 in metropolitan Taipei. Cumulative 4-day (lag 0-3) relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) of cause-specific ERV associated with daily concentrations of PM10 or PM2.5 and ADS based on study period (ADS frequently inflicted period: 2000-2004 and less-inflicted period: 2005-2008) were estimated using a distributed lag non-linear model with Poisson distribution. Risks associated with ADS-inflicted season (winter and spring), strength (ratio of stations with Pollutant Standard Index above 100 is < 0.5 or ≥ 0.5), and duration (ADS lasting for 1-3 days or ≥ 4 days) were especially evaluated. In non-linear models, an increase in PM10 from 10 μg/m(3) to 50 μg/m(3) was associated with increased risk of ERV for all causes and respiratory disease with cumulative 4- day RR of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.24) and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.54), respectively. From 2005 to 2008, the cumulative 4-day RR for an ERV related to an increase in PM2.5 from 5 μg/m(3) to 30 μg/m(3) is 1.21 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.41) for respiratory diseases, and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.22) for all causes. In comparison with normal days, elevated ERV of all causes and respiratory diseases was also associated with winter ADS (with corresponding RRs of 1.10 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.13) and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.21)) and shorter and less area-affected ADS (with corresponding RRs of 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.14)) from 2000 to 2004. Results of this study demonstrate that population health risk varies not only with PM concentration, but also with the ADS characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Welfare, University of Taipei College of City Management, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources, Chinese Culture University, Yang-Ming-Shan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources, Chinese Culture University, Yang-Ming-Shan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taiwan.|Research Center for Environmental Risk Management, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004391:Dust; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter