The effect of ambient exposure to PM2.5on the transfusion usage of blood components and adverse transfusion reactions in the haze weather.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence has shown that ambient exposure to PM2.5, especially in the haze weather, increased the risk of various diseases. However, the association of air pollution status with blood transfusion utilization and the prevalence and severity of adverse transfusion reactions remain to be clarified.


METHODS
The data of monthly transfusion usage of blood components, adverse transfusion reactions, as well as PM2.5and PM10levels from 2013 to 2015 were obtained.


RESULTS
During the study interval, both PM2.5and PM10levels were significantly increased in the haze weather when compared with the non-haze weather. The utilization of total blood components per patient-month in the haze weather was prone to be increased when compared with that in the non-haze weather (13.28 ± 1.66 vs. 12.33 ± 1.30, p = 0.068). The usage of RBC products per patient-month in the haze weather was significantly increased when compared with that in the non-haze weather (4.39 ± 0.39 vs. 4.07 ± 0.30, p = 0.009). There was no obvious difference between the haze and non-haze weathers for the usage of platelet and plasma products per patient-month. Besides, no definite differences of the prevalence and severity of transfusion-associated adverse reaction were observed between the haze and non-haze weathers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study first indicated that transfusion utilization, particularly the RBC products, was significantly increased in the haze weather when compared with that in the non-haze weather. There was no obvious association of air pollution with the prevalence and severity of adverse transfusion reactions and further research is required.
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Chih-Chun
CC
Chang
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Hui-Jung
HJ
Lin
Department of Emergency, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Jen-Tang
JT
Sun
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Pei-Yu
PY
Li
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Tai-Chen
TC
Lee
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Ming-Jang
MJ
Su
Division of Nephrology and Clinical Toxicology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Tzung-Hai
TH
Yen
Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Electronic address: jacpha@mail.femh.org.tw.
Fang-Yeh
FY
Chu
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014887:Weather
D052638:Particulate Matter
Air pollution; Blood transfusion; Particulate matter 2.5; Transfusion reaction