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Short-term population-based non-linear concentration–response associations between fine particulate matter and respiratory diseases in Taipei (Taiwan): a spatiotemporal analysis

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 26, pages 197–206 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Fine particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) has been associated with human health issues; however, findings regarding the influence of PM2.5 on respiratory disease remain inconsistent. The short-term, population-based association between the respiratory clinic visits of children and PM2.5 exposure levels were investigated by considering both the spatiotemporal distributions of ambient pollution and clinic visit data. We applied a spatiotemporal structured additive regression model to examine the concentration–response (C–R) association between children’s respiratory clinic visits and PM2.5 concentrations. This analysis was separately performed on three respiratory disease categories that were selected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance database, which includes 41 districts in the Taipei area of Taiwan from 2005 to 2007. The findings reveal a non-linear C–R pattern of PM2.5, particularly in acute respiratory infections. However, a PM2.5 increase at relatively lower levels can elevate the same-day respiratory health risks of both preschool children (<6 years old) and schoolchildren (6–14 years old). In preschool children, same-day health risks rise when concentrations increase from 0.76 to 7.44 μg/m3, and in schoolchildren, same-day health risks rise when concentrations increase from 0.76 to 7.52 μg/m3. Changes in PM2.5 levels generally exhibited no significant association with same-day respiratory risks, except in instances where PM2.5 levels are extremely high, and these occurrences do exhibit a significant positive influence on respiratory health that is especially notable in schoolchildren. A significant high relative rate of respiratory clinic visits are concentrated in highly populated areas. We highlight the non-linearity of the respiratory health effects of PM2.5 on children to investigate this population-based association. The C–R relationship in this study can provide a highly valuable alternative for assessing the effects of ambient air pollution on human health.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funds from Taiwan National Science Council (NSC 101-2628-E-002-017-MY3 and NSC 102-2221-E-002-140-MY3) and the Environmental Protection Department of the New Taipei City Government in Taiwan. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, statistical analysis, decision to publish and manuscript preparation. We also appreciate Mrs. Mary Trottier’s help in the English editing of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Hwa-Lung Yu

  2. Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Lung-Chang Chien

  3. Research to Advance Community Health Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Lung-Chang Chien

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Correspondence to Lung-Chang Chien.

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Yu, HL., Chien, LC. Short-term population-based non-linear concentration–response associations between fine particulate matter and respiratory diseases in Taipei (Taiwan): a spatiotemporal analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 26, 197–206 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.21

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