PM_2.5 and Emergency Calls for Health with Respiratory Diseases in Chengdu in 2017

  Objective  To determine the association between daily particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) mass and emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases.

  Methods  Semi-parametric generalized additive model was established to determine the association between daily PM_2.5 and emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases in 2017 in Chengdu, after adjustments for time trend and variations in the days of the week and weather conditions.

  Results  In 2017, a total of 9,309 emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases were recorded in Chengdu: on average 26 calls a day. Over the year, Chengdu reported a mean PM_2.5 mass concentration of 53.6 μg/m³, an average temperature of 16.6 ℃, and an average relative humidity of 81.2%. The single pollutant model with lag time effect showed that a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was associated with an increase of 1.26% ［95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56%-1.97%］ emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases. The exposure-response was almost in a direct line. The dual pollutant model found that O₃ 8-hour sliding average (O_3-8h) enhanced the effect of PM_2.5 on emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases.

  Conclusion  Outdoor PM_2.5 is a significant predictor of emergency calls for help with respiratory diseases in Chengdu.