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This study aims to propose an indoor air quality prediction method that can be easily utilized and reflects temporal characteristics using indoor and outdoor input data measured near the indoor target point as input to calculate indoor PM2.5 concentration through a multiple linear regression model. The atmospheric conditions and air pollution detected in one-minute intervals using sensor-based monitoring equipment (Dust Mon, Sentry Co Ltd., Seoul, Korea) inside and outside houses from May 2019 to April 2021 were used to develop the prediction model. By dividing the multiple linear regression model into one-hour increments, we attempted to overcome the limitation of not representing the multiple linear regression model's characteristics over time and limited input variables. The multiple linear regression (MLR) model classified by time unit showed an improvement in explanatory power by up to 9% compared to the existing model, and some hourly models had an explanatory power of 0.30. These results indicated that the model needs to be subdivided by time period to more accurately predict indoor PM2.5 concentrations.
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This study was conducted to provide basic data for chemical accident response by assessing the health risks of residents living near a chemical accident site due to long-term exposure. The study considered the temporal concentration changes of the leaked chemical (i.e., its behavior in the environment and dilution) until its extinction. A virtual chemical accident was assumed, in which 40 t of formaldehyde was accidentally discharged for 1 h in Ulsan Metropolitan City, Korea. Formaldehyde concentrations over time in each environmental medium after the accident were calculated using a multimedia environmental dynamics model. Exposure subjects divided into four age groups were considered. Carcinogenic risks due to respiration and non-carcinogenic risks due to soil intake were assessed. For all the age groups, the excess cancer risk did not exceed 1.0 × 10-6, indicating that no harmful health impact was caused by inhalation exposure to formaldehyde. The hazard index exceeded 1 for all the age groups, confirming that harmful health impacts were caused by exposure to soil containing the formaldehyde. This study is the first to assess chronic health risks by reflecting long-term residual and temporal concentration changes of a pollutant released in a chemical accident in each environmental medium until its extinction. This work is also significant in that it reflects the exposure characteristics of the toxic chemical.
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Liberación de Peligros Químicos , Multimedia , Ciudades , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Formaldehído/toxicidad , Humanos , República de Corea , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
Spatial interpolation is employed to improve exposure estimates and to assess adverse health effects associated with environmental risk factors. Since various studies have reported that high ozone (O3) concentrations can give rise to adverse effects on respiratory symptoms and lung function, we investigated the association between O3 levels and lung function using a variety of spatial interpolation techniques and evaluated how different methods for estimating exposure may influence health results for a cohort from an industrial complex (Gwangyang Bay) in South Korea in 2009. To estimate daily concentrations of O3 in each subject, four different methods were used, which include simple averaging, nearest neighbor, inverse distance weighting, and kriging. Also, to compare the association between O3 levels and lung function by age-groups, we explored ozone's impacts on three age-related groups: children (9-14 years), adults (15-64 years), and the elderly (≥65 years). The overall change of effect size on lung function in each age group tended to show similar patterns for lag and methods for estimating exposure. A significant negative association was only observed between O3 levels and FVC and FEV1 for most of the lag and methods in children. The largest effect of O3 levels was found at the average for the lung function test day and last 2 days (0-2 days). In conclusions, the spatial interpolation methods may benefit in providing individual-level exposure with appropriate temporal resolution from ambient monitors. However, time-activity patterns of residents, monitoring site locations, methodological choices, and other factors should be considered to minimize exposure misclassification.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Pulmón/efectos de los fármacos , Ozono/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Ozono/análisis , República de Corea , Pruebas de Función Respiratoria , Factores de Riesgo , Análisis EspacialRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have revealed the adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to particulate matter less than 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10). The aim of the present study was to examine the spatial distribution of PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality and to investigate the spatial correlation between PM10 and cardiovascular mortality using spatial scan statistic (SaTScan) and a regression model. METHODS: From 2008 to 2010, the spatial distribution of PM10 in the Seoul metropolitan area was examined via kriging. In addition, a group of cardiovascular mortality cases was analyzed using SaTScan-based cluster exploration. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to investigate the correlation between PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: An examination of the regional distribution of the cardiovascular mortality was higher in provincial districts (gu) belonging to Incheon and the northern part of Gyeonggido than in other regions. In a comparison of PM10 concentrations and mortality cluster (MC) regions, all those belonging to MC 1 and MC 2 were found to belong to particulate matter (PM) 1 and PM 2 with high concentrations of air pollutants. In addition, the GWR showed that PM10 has a statistically significant relation to cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: To investigate the relation between air pollution and health impact, spatial analyses can be utilized based on kriging, cluster exploration, and GWR for a more systematic and quantitative analysis. It has been proven that cardiovascular mortality is spatially related to the concentration of PM10.
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PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure in the area around a cement factory with kilns using waste, including refuse plastic fuel. METHODS: Atmospheric total suspended particulates (TSPs) for each of an exposed area and a non-exposed area were collected. Similarly, urine samples were collected from 330 subjects in the exposed area and 126 subjects in the non-exposed area. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used to analyze PAHs in the collected TSP samples and the PAH metabolites, urinary 2-naphthol (2-NAP) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), of the residents. The concentrations of urinary 2-NAP and 1-OHP were adjusted by creatinine concentrations. RESULTS: The atmospheric concentrations of PAHs, including naphthalene and pyrene, were higher in the exposed area than those in the non-exposed area. The geometric means (GMs) of the urinary 2-NAP concentrations in the exposed and non-exposed groups without work experience were 4.06 and 1.55 µg/g creatinine, respectively. The GMs of the urinary 1-OHP concentrations were 0.26 and 0.14 µg/g creatinine, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of PAH metabolites were significantly higher in the exposed group than those in the non-exposed group (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis with the log-transformed urinary 2-NAP and 1-OHP concentrations and other variables indicated a strong correlation of residence in the exposed area and smoking with an increase in the urinary 2-NAP and 1-OHP concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the known risk factors, this study indicated that living near a cement factory with kilns is also a risk factor for PAH exposure.
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Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Industria Manufacturera , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Anciano , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Industria Manufacturera/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Naftoles/orina , Pirenos/orina , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Neural stem cells are multipotent and self-renewing cells that can differentiate into new neurons and hold great promise for treating various neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Small molecules that can trigger neurogenesis and neuroprotection are particularly useful not only because of their therapeutic implications but also because they can provide an invaluable tool to study the mechanisms of neurogenesis. In this report, we have developed and screened 25 aminopropyl carbazole derivatives that can enhance neurogenesis of cultured neural stem cells. Among these analogues, compound 9 demonstrated an excellent proneurogenic and neuroprotective activity with no apparent toxicity. We believe that compound 9 can serve as an excellent lead to develop various analogues and to study the underlying mechanisms of neurogenesis.
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Carbazoles/química , Carbazoles/farmacología , Células-Madre Neurales/citología , Neurogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/química , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Sulfonamidas/química , Sulfonamidas/farmacología , Animales , Carbazoles/síntesis química , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/síntesis química , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Sulfonamidas/síntesis químicaRESUMEN
This study evaluated the immediate provisionalization of mini-implants with friction-engaging abutments in the mandibular anterior region. A total of 43 mini-implants placed in 30 consecutive patients had a survival rate of 100% over a follow-up period of 1 to 4 years. The overall change in marginal bone level from definitive restoration delivery to 1 year for a single-tooth mini-implant replacement was -0.17 ± 0.42 mm, demonstrating bone gain. The mean changes in marginal bone level on the mesial and distal aspects were -0.18 ± 0.46 mm and -0.16 ± 0.40 mm, respectively, also representing bone gain. The difference between the mesial and distal change in bone level was not statistically significant (P = .93). The peri-implant soft tissue remained relatively unchanged at 1 year posttreatment.
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Diseño de Implante Dental-Pilar , Implantes Dentales de Diente Único , Carga Inmediata del Implante Dental/métodos , Mandíbula/cirugía , Proceso Alveolar/patología , Materiales Biocompatibles Revestidos/química , Coronas , Aleaciones Dentales/química , Retención de Prótesis Dentales , Prótesis Dental de Soporte Implantado , Restauración Dental Provisional , Estudios de Seguimiento , Fricción , Encía/patología , Humanos , Carga Inmediata del Implante Dental/instrumentación , Miniaturización , Periodoncio/patología , Fotografía Dental , Radiografía de Mordida Lateral , Estudios Retrospectivos , Análisis de Supervivencia , Titanio/químicaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies reported associations of occupational electric and magnetic fields (MF) with neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Results differ between studies using proxy exposure based on occupational titles and estimated MF levels. We conducted a meta-analysis of occupational MF NDD, primarily Alzheimer disease (AD), and motor neuron diseases (MNDs) studies. METHODS: We identified 42 peer-reviewed publications and focused our analysis on study characteristics, exposure metrics, and publication bias. RESULTS: We found weak associations for occupational MF exposure proxies with AD and MND. Motor neuron disease risk was associated with occupational titles, whereas AD risk was associated with estimated MF levels. Results varied in study design, with dissimilar variation across diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support MF as the explanation for observed associations between occupational titles and MND. Disease misclassification, particularly for AD, and imprecise exposure assessment affected most studies.
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Enfermedad de Alzheimer/etiología , Campos Magnéticos/efectos adversos , Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora/etiología , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Reacciones Falso Positivas , Humanos , Ocupaciones , Sesgo de PublicaciónRESUMEN
A series of TRPV1 agonists with amide, reverse amide, and thiourea groups in the B-region and their corresponding α-methylated analogues were investigated. Whereas the α-methylation of the amide B-region enhanced the binding affinities and potencies as agonists, that of the reverse amide and thiourea led to a reduction in receptor affinity. The analysis indicated that proper hydrogen bonding as well as steric effects in the B-region are critical for receptor binding.
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Canales Catiónicos TRPV/agonistas , Amidas/síntesis química , Amidas/química , Amidas/metabolismo , Metilación , Unión Proteica , Estereoisomerismo , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/metabolismo , Tiourea/síntesis química , Tiourea/química , Tiourea/metabolismoRESUMEN
There is a growing public concern over the potential accumulation of heavy metals in soil, owing to rapid industrial development. In an effort to describe the status of the pollutions of soil by industrial activities, relevant data sets reported by many studies were surveyed and reviewed. The results of our analysis indicate that soils were polluted most significantly by metals such as lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium. If the dominant species are evaluated by the highest mean concentration observed for different industry types, the results were grouped into Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Fe, and As in smelting and metal production industries, Mn and Cd in the textile industry, and Cr in the leather industry. In most cases, metal levels in the studied areas were found to exceed the common regulation guideline levels enforced by many countries. The geoaccumulation index (I(geo)), calculated to estimate the enrichment of metal concentrations in soil, showed that the level of metal pollution in most surveyed areas is significant, especially for Pb and Cd. It is thus important to keep systematic and continuous monitoring of heavy metals and their derivatives to manage and suppress such pollution.
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Contaminantes Ambientales/química , Metales/análisis , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisis , Oligoelementos/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Cadmio/análisis , Cobre/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Residuos Industriales , Industrias , Plomo/análisis , Control de Calidad , Valores de Referencia , Suelo/análisis , Espectrofotometría Atómica , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Zinc/análisisRESUMEN
On the basis of the previous lead N-4-t-butylbenzyl 2-(3-fluoro-4-methylsulfonylaminophenyl) propanamide (3) as a potent TRPV1 antagonist, structure-activity relationships for the B (propanamide part) and C-region (4-t-butylbenzyl part) have been investigated for rTRPV1 in CHO cells. The B-region was modified with dimethyl, cyclopropyl and reverse amides and then the C-region was replaced with 4-substituted phenyl, aryl alkyl and diaryl alkyl derivatives. Among them, compound 50 showed high binding affinity with K(i)=21.5nM, which was twofold more potent than 3 and compound 54 exhibited potent antagonism with K(i(ant))=8.0nM comparable to 3.
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Analgésicos/química , Analgésicos/farmacología , Mesilatos/química , Mesilatos/farmacología , Fenilpropionatos/química , Fenilpropionatos/farmacología , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Células CHO , Cricetinae , Humanos , Ratas , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/metabolismoRESUMEN
Structure-activity relationships for the A-region in a series of N-4-t-butylbenzyl 2-(4-methylsulfonylaminophenyl) propanamides as TRPV1 antagonists have been investigated. Among them, the 3-fluoro analogue 54 showed high binding affinity and potent antagonism for both rTRPV1 and hTRPV1 in CHO cells. Its stereospecific activity was demonstrated with marked selectivity for the (S)-configuration (54S versus 54R). A docking study of 54S with our hTRPV1 homology model highlighted crucial hydrogen bonds between the ligand and the receptor contributing to its potency.
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Amidas/química , Amidas/farmacología , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/antagonistas & inhibidores , Amidas/síntesis química , Animales , Sitios de Unión , Células CHO , Simulación por Computador , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Humanos , Enlace de Hidrógeno , Unión Proteica/efectos de los fármacos , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Ratas , Estereoisomerismo , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/metabolismoRESUMEN
The objective of this study was to estimate the association between ambient ozone levels and hospitalization for asthma/atopic dermatitis among children younger than 15 years old living in Seoul and Ulsan, Korea, in the years 2004-2005. Estimated relative risks of hospital admissions associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in ozone concentration were calculated using a generalized additive Poisson model. For childhood asthma, the effect of an ozone increase on the relative risks in Ulsan [1.21 (95% CI, 1.10-1.34)] was higher than that in Seoul [1.05 (95% CI, 0.99-1.11)]. The relative risks for childhood atopic dermatitis were also found to be higher in Ulsan [1.38 (95% CI, 0.80-2.36)] than in Seoul [1.28 (95% CI, 1.04-1.58)]. These results support previously reported findings and also indicate that ozone concentrations at levels below the standards in the Republic of Korea can be correlated with asthma hospital admissions in children.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Asma/epidemiología , Dermatitis Atópica/epidemiología , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/efectos adversos , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Ozono/efectos adversos , Admisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Asma/etiología , Niño , Preescolar , Ciudades , Dermatitis Atópica/etiología , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Femenino , Humanos , Humedad , Masculino , Ozono/análisis , República de Corea/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Estaciones del Año , Temperatura , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Infants are known to be susceptible to the adverse health effects of ambient air pollution. The authors examined the relationship between air pollution and postneonatal mortality from all causes among firstborn infants in Seoul, Korea, during 1999-2003, using both case-crossover and time-series analyses. Using a bidirectional control-sampling approach, the authors compared the effects of various types of air pollution on postneonatal mortality. The relative risk of postneonatal mortality from all causes was 1.000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.998-1.002) for particulate matter with a diameter <10 mum, 1.002 (95% CI = 0.994-1.009) for nitrogen dioxide, 1.015 (95% CI = 0.973-1.058) for sulfur dioxide, 1.029 (95% CI = 0.833-1.271) for carbon monoxide, and 0.984 (95% CI = 0.977-0.992) for ozone for each 1-unit increase of air pollution level in the 1:6 control selection scheme. The authors observed a positive association between air pollution and infant daily mortality except for the studied particulate matter and ozone, although it was not statistically significant. They obtained similar results in the time-series analysis. The risk of postneonatal infant death from all causes was positively associated with all studied air pollutants except ozone. The authors also confirmed that the bidirectional method with many controls will give a more efficient estimator than will a method with fewer controls.
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Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Mortalidad Infantil , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Orden de Nacimiento , Monóxido de Carbono/efectos adversos , Monóxido de Carbono/análisis , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Estudios de Cohortes , Estudios Cruzados , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Corea (Geográfico)/epidemiología , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/efectos adversos , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/análisis , Material Particulado/efectos adversos , Material Particulado/análisis , Riesgo , Dióxido de Azufre/efectos adversos , Dióxido de Azufre/análisisRESUMEN
This study was performed to examine the relationship between particulate matter exposure and mortality in Seoul, Korea, during the year 2001. Particulate matter data were collected using an optical particle counter (OPC) and national monitoring stations in Seoul. The size-resolved aerosol number concentrations of particles 0.3-25 microm in diameter and mass concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microm in diameter) and PM2.5 (less than 2.5 microm in diameter) were measured. Meteorological data such as air temperature and relative humidity were provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration. Daily mortality was analyzed using a generalized additive Poisson model, with adjustment for the effects of seasonal trend, air temperature, humidity, and day of the week as confounders, in a nonparametric approach. We used S-Plus for all analyses. Model fitness, using loess smoothing, was based on stringent convergence criteria to minimize the default convergence criteria in the S-Plus generalized additive models module. The IQR (interquartile range) increase of fine particle (10.21 number/cm3 [the total number of particles per cubic centimeter]) and respiratory particle (10.38 number/cm3) number concentration were associated with a 5.73% (5.03%-6.45%) and a 5.82% (5.13%-6.53%) increase in respiratory disease-associated mortality, respectively. Mortality effects in the elderly (aged over 65 years) were increased by more than 0.51% to 2.59%, and the relative risks of respiratory-related and cardiovascular-related mortality were increased by 0.51% to 1.06% compared with all-cause mortality. These findings support the hypothesis that air pollution is harmful to sensitive subjects, such as the elderly, and has a greater effect on respiratory- and cardiovascular-related mortality than all-cause mortality. However, our results using OPC data did not support the hypothesis that PM2.5 would have more adverse health effects than PM10 in number concentration but not in mass concentration.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Mortalidad , Material Particulado/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/mortalidad , Niño , Preescolar , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Exposición por Inhalación , Corea (Geográfico)/epidemiología , Enfermedades Pulmonares/mortalidad , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
The objective of this study is to see whether there were any health benefits of mitigated air pollution concentration due to reduced traffic flow during a citywide intervention for the 2002 Summer Asian Games. Relative risks of hospitalization for childhood asthma during the post-Asian Game period compared with the baseline period were estimated using a time-series analysis of the generalized additive Poisson model. Fourteen consecutive days of traffic volume control in Busan during the Games reduced all regulated air pollutant levels by 1-25%. The estimated relative risk of hospitalization during the post-Games period over the baseline period was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49, 1.11). We observed that this reduced air pollution was unique in 2002 when the traffic volume reduction program was applied during the Games period. This empirical data provides epidemiologic evidence of the health benefits resulting from environmental interventions to reduce ambient air pollution.
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Contaminación del Aire/estadística & datos numéricos , Asma/epidemiología , Asma/prevención & control , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Deportes , Transportes/legislación & jurisprudencia , Transportes/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminación del Aire/prevención & control , Niño , Humanos , Corea (Geográfico)/epidemiología , Estaciones del Año , Factores de Tiempo , Tiempo (Meteorología)RESUMEN
There is increasing concern that airborne particles are critical risk factors for adverse health conditions in susceptible populations. The objective of this panel study is to investigate an association between particulate matter and the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in the elderly and to compare estimated risks using PM10 or PM2.5 levels as a measure of exposure. During a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study, we contacted subjects living in an asylum for the elderly, provided them with a mini-Wright peak flow meter, and instructed to record all the flow readings, any respiratory symptoms, passive smoking activity, and hours spent outdoors for that given day. Daily levels of particulate matter were measured by two separate mini-volume air samplers (for PM10 and PM2.5) placed on the rooftop of the two-story residence asylum building. In our statistical models, we assumed that the expected response varied linearly for each participant with a slope and intercept that depended on fixed or time-varying covariates using a mixed linear model. The daily mean levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were 78 microg/m3 and 56 microg/m3, respectively. For every 10 microg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 levels, there was an estimated PEFR change of -0.39 l/min (95% CI, -0.63, -0.14) and -0.54 l/min (95% CI, -0.89, -0.19), respectively. These data also suggest that fine particles have a more adverse respiratory health impact for sensitive individuals such as the elderly and that more research and control strategies should focus on the smaller particles associated with air pollution.
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Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Material Particulado/toxicidad , Ápice del Flujo Espiratorio/efectos de los fármacos , Respiración/efectos de los fármacos , Anciano , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Femenino , Humanos , Corea (Geográfico) , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Tamaño de la PartículaRESUMEN
Recent papers have reported that Asian dust events have been associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and rates of respiratory illness. The current study was designed to estimate the relative risk of mortality associated with Asian dust events. We used the daily counts of non-accidental deaths, air pollution and meteorological data in Seoul, Korea from 2000 to 2004. We divided all days during the study period into two groups according to the presence or absence of Asian dust events. For each group, we conducted time-series analysis to estimate the relative risk of total non-accidental death when the concentration of each air pollutant increased by the inter-quartile range (IQR). The average concentrations of every air pollutant on the days without a dust event were lower than those on the days with such an event. We found that the effect sizes of air pollution on daily death rates in the model without Asian dust events were larger than those in the model with Asian dust events, and were statistically significant for all air pollutants (PM(10), CO, NO(2), and SO(2)) except for O(3). Our results suggest that we are likely to underestimate the risk of urban air particles if we analyze the effect size of air pollution on daily mortality during Asian dust events. We hypothesize that the real health effect is much larger than previous results suggested.
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Causas de Muerte , Polvo , Trastornos Respiratorios/mortalidad , Enfermedades Respiratorias/mortalidad , Monóxido de Carbono/efectos adversos , Monóxido de Carbono/análisis , Polvo/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Humanos , Corea (Geográfico) , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/efectos adversos , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/análisis , Ozono/efectos adversos , Ozono/análisis , Tamaño de la Partícula , Material Particulado , Trastornos Respiratorios/epidemiología , Trastornos Respiratorios/etiología , Enfermedades Respiratorias/epidemiología , Enfermedades Respiratorias/etiología , Dióxido de Azufre/efectos adversos , Dióxido de Azufre/análisis , Salud UrbanaRESUMEN
There is increased evidence that air pollution may be associated with cardiovascular disease. The authors' prior investigations on the association between air pollution exposure and stroke mortality led to the current study, which was conducted to assess the effects of ambient air pollution on ischemic cardiovascular diseases among the elderly population (i.e., males and females 64+ yr of age) in Seoul, Korea. The authors estimated the relative risks of hospitalization associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollution concentrations; a generalized additive Poisson model was used to conduct a time-series analysis of the counts. The concentrations of ambient air pollutants were lower than the current recommendations for air quality in Korea. The estimated relative risks of hospitalization associated with an IQR were 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.10) for particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microm in diameter (PM10) (IQR = 40.4 microg/m3); 1.10 (95% CI = 1.05, 1.15) for ozone (IQR = 21.7 ppb); 1.08 (95% CI = 1.03, 1.14) for nitrogen dioxide (IQR = 14.6 ppb); 1.07 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.13) for carbon monoxide (IQR = 1.0 ppm); and 0.95 (95% CI = 0.90, 1.01) for sulfur dioxide (IQR = 4.4 ppb). The authors observed that sulfur dioxide was a significant risk factor for ischemic heart disease-related hospital admissions during the summer months (i.e., June, July, and August) (relative risk = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.08, 1.62). Hospital admissions for ischemic heart diseases were associated significantly with daily variations in levels of ambient air pollutants. These findings may provide new insights into the possible pathologic mechanisms involving air pollutants, and they support the hypothesis that the elderly appear to be at particular risk from the effects of air pollution, at pollutant levels lower than the standards commonly adopted by many countries.
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Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Isquemia Miocárdica/terapia , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Femenino , Humanos , Corea (Geográfico) , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Isquemia Miocárdica/fisiopatología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: As information about the health risks associated with air pollution has become available, attention has focused increasingly on susceptible persons such as children and persons with preexisting respiratory diseases, such as asthma. METHODS: We investigated the association between outdoor air pollution and asthma attacks among children under 15 years of age in Seoul, Korea. We estimated the relative risks of hospitalization associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutant concentrations and used time series analysis of the counts by means of the generalized additive Poisson model. RESULTS: The estimated relative risk of hospitalization for asthma was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.11) for particulate matters less than or equal to 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (IQR = 40.4 microg/m3); 1.11 (95% CI = 1.06-1.17) for sulfur dioxide (IQR = 4.4 ppb); 1.15 (95% CI = 1.10-1.20) for nitrogen dioxide (IQR = 14.6 ppb); 1.12 (95% CI = 1.07-1.16) for ozone (IQR = 21.7 ppb); and 1.16 (95% CI = 1.10-1.22) for carbon monoxide (IQR = 1.0 ppm). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that air pollution at levels below the current standards of Korea is harmful to sensitive subjects such as asthmatic children.