Public health risks of prolonged fine particle events associated with stagnation and air quality index based on fine particle matter with a diameter <2.5 μm in the Kaoping region of Taiwan.
The increasing frequency of droughts in tropical and sub-tropical areas since 1970 due to climate change requires a better understanding of the relationship between public health and long-duration fine particle events (FPE; defined as a day with an average PM2.5≥ 35.5 μg/m3) associated with rainfall and wind speed. In the Kaoping region of Taiwan, 94.46 % of the daily average PM2.5in winter exceeds the limit established by 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This study investigated the differences in winter weather characteristics and health effects between non-FPE and FPE days, and the performance of air quality indexes on FPE days. Z-statistics for one-tailed tests, multiplicative decomposition models, logarithmic regression, and product-moment correlations were used for the analysis. The results indicate that mean wind speeds, rainfall hours, and air temperature were significantly decreased on FPE days. Daily mean PM2.5concentrations were positively correlated to the duration of FPE days. The duration of FPE days was positively related to the length of drought (r = 0.97, P < 0.05). The number of respiratory admissions was positively correlated with the FPE duration (r2= 0.60). The age groups >15 years experienced the largest average reduction in asthma admissions on lag-days. Compared to the pollutant standard index (PSI) and revised air quality index (RAQI), the PM2.5index is more representative and sensitive to changes in PM2.5concentrations.
Centre for General Education, National Taipei University of Business, No. 321, Sec 1, Chi-Nan Rd, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, Republic of China. liweilai@ntub.edu.tw.
Li-Wei
LW
Lai
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057231:Climate Change; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D013624:Taiwan; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
Circulatory system disorders; Fine particle event; PM2.5 index; Rainfall hours; Respiratory illnesses; Wind speed