The Estimated Change in the Level and Distribution of PM-attributable Health Impacts in the United States: 2005-2014

Overview

Journal Environ Res

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2018 Aug 25

PMID 30142626

Citations 22

Authors

Neal Fann

Evan Coffman

Brian Timin

James T Kelly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Photochemical modeling can predict the level and distribution of pollutant concentrations over time, but is resource-intensive. Partly for this reason, there are few studies exploring the multi-year trajectory of the historical change in fine particle (PM) levels and associated health impacts in the U.S.

Objectives: We used a unique dataset of Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model simulations performed for a subset of years over a decade-long period fused with observations to estimate the change in ambient levels of PM across the contiguous U.S. We also quantified the change in PM-attributable health risks and characterized the level of risk inequality over this period.

Methods: We estimated annual mean PM concentrations in 2005, 2011 and 2014. Using log-linear and logistic concentration-response coefficients we estimated changes in the numbers of deaths, hospital admissions and other morbidity outcomes. Calculating the Gini coefficient and Atkinson Index, we characterized the extent to which PM attributable risks were shared equally across the population or instead concentrated among certain subgroups.

Results: In 2005 the estimated fraction of deaths due to PM was 6.1%. This estimated value falls to 4.6% by 2014. Every portion of the contiguous U.S. experiences a decline in the risk of PM-related premature death over the 10-year period. As measured by the Gini coefficient and Atkinson index, the level of PM mortality risk is shared more equally in 2014 than in 2005 among all subgroups.

Conclusions: Between 2005 and 2014, the level of PM concentrations fall, and the risk of premature death, declined and became more equitably distributed across the U.S.

Population:

Citing Articles

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Increasing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Ambient Air Pollution-Attributable Morbidity and Mortality in the United States.

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All-Cause NO-Attributable Mortality Burden and Associated Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the United States.

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Racial/ethnic disparities in PM-attributable cardiovascular mortality burden in the United States.

Ma Y, Zang E, Opara I, Lu Y, Krumholz H, Chen K Nat Hum Behav. 2023; 7(12):2074-2083.

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