Air pollution and hospital admissions for asthma in a tropical city: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Journal Article · Sat Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Inhalation Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08958370600686176· OSTI ID:20813172

Tsai, Shang-Shyue; Cheng, Meng-Hsuan; Chiu, Hui-Fen; Wu, Trong-Neng; Yang, Chun-Yuh ^[1]

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1. I-Shou University, Kaohsiung (Taiwan). Department of Health Care Administration

This study was undertaken to determine whether there is an association between air pollutants levels and hospital admissions for asthma in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for asthma and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period from 1996 through 2003. The relative risk of hospital admission was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. In the single-pollutant models, on warm days ({>=}25{sup o}C) statistically significant positive associations were found in all pollutants except sulfur dioxide. On cool days ({<=} 25{sup o}C) all pollutants were significantly associated with asthma admissions. For the two pollutant models, CO and O{sub 3} were significant in combination with each of the other four pollutants on warm days. On cool days NO{sub 2} remained statistically significant in all the two-pollutant models. This study provides evidence that higher levels of ambient pollutants increase the risk of hospital admissions for asthma.

• OSTI ID: 20813172
• Journal Information: Inhalation Toxicology, Vol. 18, Issue 8; ISSN 0895-8378
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
TAIWAN
AIR POLLUTION
ASTHMA
SULFUR DIOXIDE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
URBAN AREAS
HEALTH HAZARDS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
OZONE
CARBON MONOXIDE
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
CORRELATIONS
HOSPITALS
PUBLIC HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
TROPICAL REGIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION