Effect of PM 2.5 Levels on Respiratory Pediatric ED Visits in a Semi-Urban Greek Peninsula

Nikolaos Kanellopoulos, Ioannis Pantazopoulos, Maria Mermiri, Georgios Mavrovounis, Georgios Kalantzis, Georgios Saharidis and Konstantinos Gourgoulianis
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Nikolaos Kanellopoulos: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Ioannis Pantazopoulos: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Maria Mermiri: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Georgios Mavrovounis: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Georgios Kalantzis: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, Leoforos Athinon, 8 Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece
Georgios Saharidis: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, Leoforos Athinon, 8 Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece
Konstantinos Gourgoulianis: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths worldwide. Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 particles are believed to be the most harmful, as when inhaled they can penetrate deep into the lungs. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PM 2.5 daily air concentrations and pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory diseases in a Greek suburban area. All pediatric ED visits for asthma-, pneumonia- and upper respiratory infection (URI)-related complaints were recorded during the one-year period. The 24-h PM 2.5 air pollution data were prospectively collected from twelve fully automated air quality monitoring stations. The mean annual concentration of PM 2.5 was 30.03 ?g/m 3 (World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) Annual mean concentration: 10 ?g/m 3 ). PM 2.5 levels rose above the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) 24-h concentrations (25 ?g/m 3 )), 178 times (48.6% of the study period). When PM 2.5 levels were above the daily limit, an increase of 32.44% ( p < 0.001) was observed in daily pediatric ED visits for respiratory diseases and the increase was much higher during spring (21.19%, p = 0.018). A 32% ( p < 0.001) increase was observed in URI-related visits, when PM 2.5 levels were ?25 ?g/m 3 , compared to the mean daily visits when PM 2.5 levels were <25 ?g/m 3 . Air pollution levels were associated with increased pediatric ED visits for respiratory-related diseases.

Keywords: PM 2.5; air pollution; respiratory diseases; asthma; pneumonia; upper respiratory infections; emergency department (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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