A New Combined Air Quality and Heat Index in Relation to Mortality in Monterrey, Mexico

Shayna K. Fever, Jonathan D. W. Kahl, Amy E. Kalkbrenner, Rosa M. Cerón Bretón and Julia G. Cerón Bretón
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Shayna K. Fever: Atmospheric Science Program, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Jonathan D. W. Kahl: Atmospheric Science Program, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Amy E. Kalkbrenner: Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Rosa M. Cerón Bretón: Department of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Carmen, Campeche 24180, Mexico
Julia G. Cerón Bretón: Department of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Carmen, Campeche 24180, Mexico

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: The negative synergistic effects of air pollution and sensible heat on public health have been noted in numerous studies. While separate, simplified, and public-facing indices have been developed to communicate the risks of unhealthful levels of air pollution and extreme heat, a combined index containing elements of both has rarely been investigated. Utilizing air quality, meteorology, and mortality data in Monterrey, Mexico, we investigated whether the association between the air quality index (AQI) and mortality was improved by considering elements of the heat index (HI). We created combined indices featuring additive, multiplicative, and either/or formulations and evaluated their relationship to mortality. Results showed increased associations with mortality for models employing indices that combined the AQI and the HI in an additive or multiplicative manner, with increases in the interquartile relative risk of 3–5% over that resulting from models employing the AQI alone.

Keywords: air quality index; heat index; combined index; air quality–mortality relationships; heat-mortality relationships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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