Biomass Burning as a Source of Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Biomass burning is an important source of ambient fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) in many regions of the world.



We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of ambient PM2.5 and hospital admissions for myocardial infarction (MI) in three regions of British Columbia, Canada. Daily hospital admission data were collected between 2008 and 2015 and PM2.5 data were collected from fixed site monitors. We used conditional logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) describing the association between PM2.5 and the risk of hospital admission for MI. We used stratified analyses to evaluate effect modification by biomass burning as a source of ambient PM2.5 using the ratio of levoglucosan/PM2.5 mass concentrations.



Each 5 µg/m increase in 3-day mean PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of MI among elderly subjects (≥65 years; OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.08); risk was not increased among younger subjects. Among the elderly, the strongest association occurred during colder periods (<6.44°C); when we stratified analyses by tertiles of monthly mean biomass contributions to PM2.5 during cold periods, ORs of 1.19 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.36), 1.08 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.09), and 1.04 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.06) were observed in the upper, middle, and lower tertiles (Ptrend = 0.003), respectively.



Short-term changes in ambient PM2.5 were associated with an increased risk of MI among elderly subjects. During cold periods, increased biomass burning contributions to PM2.5 may modify its association with MI.
From the aDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; bHealth Canada, Air Health Science Division, Ottawa, ON, Canada; cDepartment of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; dUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; eDepartment of Health Sciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada; and fHealth Canada, Population Studies Division, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Scott
S
Weichenthal
Ryan
R
Kulka
Eric
E
Lavigne
David
D
van Rijswijk
Michael
M
Brauer
Paul J
PJ
Villeneuve
Dave
D
Stieb
Lawrence
L
Joseph
Rick T
RT
Burnett
D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018533:Biomass; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012307:Risk Factors
D052638:Particulate Matter; C014989:1,6-anhydro-beta-glucopyranose; D005947:Glucose