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. 2025 Jul 21;15(1):26476.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12248-4.

Differences in perceived sensitivity to air pollution between smokers and non-smokers during a heavy haze episode in Northeast China

Xing Yang  1   2 , Li Liu  3   4 , Yanxia Li  3   4 , Huijuan Mu  3   4 , Jun Na  3   4 , Wei Sun  1   2 , Lingjun Yan  1   2 , Guowei Pan  5   6 , Qihao Wang  7   8
Affiliations

Differences in perceived sensitivity to air pollution between smokers and non-smokers during a heavy haze episode in Northeast China

Xing Yang et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

China experienced a catastrophic haze episode in January 2013 (2013JHE), no study has compared the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms between smokers and non-smokers in 2013JHE. A rapid cross-sectional assessment of perceived air pollution and the prevalence of coughing, phlegm, and wheezing was conducted among 4303 adults sampled from three cities in Liaoning. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the prevalence of coughing, phlegm, and wheezing. A path analysis was performed to test the relationships between number of cigarettes smoked daily, perceived air pollution score (PAPS), protective behavior score (PBS), and irritating feeling score (IFS). Among the participants, 26.3% felt irritated; 26.9% had acute respiratory symptoms; 22.9% had coughing; 20.2% had throat pain. The ORs for coughing, phlegm, and wheezing were all significantly increased among individuals with a history of respiratory disease, PAPS, PBS, and IFS. However, the ORs for coughing and wheezing were borderline significantly decreased among smokers, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily was negatively associated with PAPS and PBS in the path model. The 2013JHE had a serious impact local residents and significantly increased the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms. Non-smokers and residents with a history of respiratory disease appear to be more susceptible sub-populations.

Keywords: Acute respiratory symptoms; Heavy haze episode; Rapid cross-sectional; Smoker.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Boards of Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The survey was only initiated after participants consented and signed the written informed consent form. The study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards laid down in the 2013 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Consent to participate: All participants provided their own consent.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of the average air pollution levels between Shenyang (18–31 January 2013) and Beijing (10–17 January 2013) during 2013JHE.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Path analytic mode of number of cigarettes smoked daily (NCS), perceived air pollution score (PAPS), protective behavior score (PBS), and irritating feeling score (IFS).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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