Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2020 Sep;62(9):764-770.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001972.

The Impact of an Urban Scrapyard Fire on Respiratory-Related Pediatric Emergency Department Visits

Jonathan C Li  1 , Danielle Casher
Affiliations
Observational Study

The Impact of an Urban Scrapyard Fire on Respiratory-Related Pediatric Emergency Department Visits

Jonathan C Li et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: In Philadelphia, a scrapyard fire generated PM2.5 concentrations >1000 μg/m. We assessed whether this was associated with pediatric emergency department visits for respiratory diagnoses.

Design/methods: Retrospective observational study using electronic health record data from a local, academic pediatric hospital.

Results: Compared to the two-week period before the fire, patients living directly north of the fire (downwind) had a significant difference in all asthma diagnoses (OR = 3.02, P = 0.03); asthma and upper respiratory infection (OR = 17.3, P = 0.01); overall admissions (OR = 3.04, P = 01); asthma admissions (OR = 4.45, P = .01); and asthma and upper respiratory infection admissions (OR = 15.0, P = 0.01). We did not observe any significant differences among visits or admissions from patients residing in other adjacent zip codes.

Conclusion: A localized, transient increase in PM2.5 was associated with increased pediatric emergency department visits for asthma among patients living downwind of the fire.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Friedlander SK. Smoke, Dust, and Haze: Fundamentals of Aerosol Dynamics. 2nd ed. 2000; New York:Oxford University Press, 360–368.
    1. Thompson JE. Airborne particulate matter: human exposure and health effects. J Occup Environ Med 2018; 60:392423. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001277. - DOI
    1. Albuquerque-Silva I, Vecellio L, Durand M, et al. Particle deposition in a child respiratory tract model: in vivo regional deposition of fine and ultrafine aerosols in baboons. PLoS One 2014; 9:18.
    1. Oberdorster G. Pulmonary effects of inhaled ultrafine particles. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2000; 74:18. doi:10.1007/s004200000185. - DOI
    1. Committee on Environmental Health. Ambient air pollution: health hazards to children. Pediatrics 2004; 114:16991707. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2166. - DOI

Publication types