Association of Air Pollution and Weather Factors with Traffic Injury Severity: A Study in Taiwan

Ta-Chien Chan, Chih-Wei Pai, Chia-Chieh Wu, Jason C. Hsu, Ray-Jade Chen, Wen-Ta Chiu and Carlos Lam
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Ta-Chien Chan: Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
Chih-Wei Pai: Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Chia-Chieh Wu: Emergency Department, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
Jason C. Hsu: International PhD Program in Biotech and Healthcare Management, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10675, Taiwan
Ray-Jade Chen: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Wen-Ta Chiu: Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Carlos Lam: Emergency Department, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Exposure to air pollutants may elevate the injury severity scores (ISSs) for road traffic injuries (RTIs). This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the associations between air pollution, weather conditions, and RTI severity. This retrospective study was performed in Taiwan in 2018. The location of each road traffic accident (RTA) was used to determine the nearest air quality monitoring and weather station, and the time of each RTA was matched to the corresponding hourly air pollutant concentration and weather factors. Five multiple logistic regression models were used to compute the risk of sustaining severe injury (ISS ? 9). Of the 14,973 patients with RTIs, 2853 sustained severe injury. Moderate or unhealthy air quality index, higher exposure to particulate matter ?2.5 ?m in diameter, bicyclists or pedestrians, greater road width, nighttime, and higher temperature and relative humidity were significant risk factors for severe injury. Exposure to nitrogen oxide and ozone did not increase the risk. Auto occupants and scene-to-hospital time were the protective factors. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent results between air pollutants and the risk of severe injury. Poor air quality and hot and humid weather conditions were associated with severe RTIs. Active commuters were at higher risk of sustaining severe RTI.

Keywords: road traffic injury; injury severity; fine particulate matter; air quality index; active commuters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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