The short term burden of ambient particulate matters on non-accidental mortality and years of life lost: A ten-year multi-district study in Tianjin, China

Abstract

Years of life lost (YLL) is a more informative and accurate indicator than daily death counts for assessing air pollution related premature death. However, there is limited evidence available about the relationship of air pollution with YLL, especially in China. We conducted a ten-year (from January 1st, 2001 to December 31st, 2010) multi-district time-series study to estimate the effects of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm in size (PM₁₀) on daily non-accidental deaths and YLL in six districts of Tianjin, China. Meta-analysis was used to merge the results of the six districts. We found that the increase of PM₁₀ was significantly associated with daily death and YLL in the six districts, except with the YLL in Heping district. 10 μg/m³ increases in PM₁₀ were associated with the maximum increases in excess risk (ER) of death counts of 0.33% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25%, 0.41%) at lag01 and in YLL of 0.80 (95%CI: 0.47, 1.13) person year at lag01 for the combined effects of six districts, respectively. Moreover, the associations of PM₁₀ on daily death counts and YLL were stronger in the elder people (≥65 years) than those in the younger ones (<65 years). These findings may help to shed light on the policy-making of PM-control in China and provide useful information for the protection of susceptible population.

Keywords: Disease burden; Mortality; Particulate matter; Time-series study; Years of life lost.