Air Pollution and Mortality in Chile: Susceptibility Among the Elderly

Overview

Journal Environ Health Perspect

Date 2007 Apr 24

PMID 17450219

Citations 24

Authors

Sabit Cakmak

Robert E Dales

Claudia Blanco Vidal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The estimated mortality rate associated with ambient air pollution based on general population studies may not be representative of the effects on certain subgroups. The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of relatively high concentrations of air pollution on mortality in a general population sample and in the very elderly.

Study Design: Daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily air pollution and daily mortality in seven Chilean urban centers during 1997-2003. Results were adjusted for day of the week and humidex.

Results: Daily averaged particulate matter with aerodynamic matter < 10 microm (PM(10)) was 84.88 microg/m(3), sulfur dioxide was 14.08 ppb, and carbon monoxide was 1.29 ppb. The 1-hr maximum ozone was 100.13 ppb. The percentage increases in nonaccidental mortality associated with an increase in PM(10) equivalent to its mean were 4.53 (t-ratio 1.52) for those < 65 years and 14.03 (3.87) for those > 85 years. Respective values were 4.96 (1.17) and 8.56 (2.02) for O(3); 4.77 (2.50) and 7.92 (3.23) for SO(2); and 4.10 (2.52) and 8.58 (4.45) for CO.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the very elderly are particularly susceptible to dying from air pollution. Concentrations deemed acceptable for the general population may not adequately protect the very elderly.

Citing Articles

Ambient air pollution exposure and COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Santiago, Chile.

Dales R, Lukina A, Romero-Meza R, Blanco-Vidal C, Cakmak S Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):14186.

PMID: 38902344 PMC: 11190141. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64668-3.

An overview of air pollution research in Chile: Bibliometric analysis and scoping review, challenger and future directions.

Villacura L, Sanchez L, Catalan F, Toro A R, Leiva G M Heliyon. 2024; 10(3):e25431.

PMID: 38327474 PMC: 10847656. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25431.

Chronic exposure to fine particles (PM) and mortality: Evidence from Chile.

Busch P, Cifuentes L, Cabrera C Environ Epidemiol. 2023; 7(4):e253.

PMID: 37545809 PMC: 10402952. DOI: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000253.

Effect of short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants on non-accidental mortality in emergency department visits: a time-series study.

Wang S, Zhang Y, Li X, Zhao J, Zhang N, Guo Y Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1208514.

PMID: 37457252 PMC: 10348907. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1208514.

The association between air pollution and COVID-19 related mortality in Santiago, Chile: A daily time series analysis.

Dales R, Blanco-Vidal C, Romero-Meza R, Schoen S, Lukina A, Cakmak S Environ Res. 2021; 198:111284.

PMID: 33971125 PMC: 8547777. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111284.

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