Association between ambient ozone and health outcomes in Prague

0377110 - ÚI 2013 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Hůnová, I. - Malý, Marek - Řezáčová, J. - Braniš, M.
Association between ambient ozone and health outcomes in Prague.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. Roč. 86, č. 1 (2013), s. 89-97. ISSN 0340-0131. E-ISSN 1432-1246
Grant - others:GA MŠk(CZ) 2B08077; GA AV ČR(CZ) M100300904
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10300504
Keywords : ambient ozone * cardiovascular diseases * hospital admissions * mortality * respiratory diseases
Subject RIV: DN - Health Impact of the Environment Quality
Impact factor: 2.198, year: 2013

PURPOSE: Though numerous studies investigating ambient ozone (O(3)) effects on human health were published, such a study for Central Europe is still lacking. We have investigated the association between ozone (O(3)) levels and hospital admissions and mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for Prague inhabitants for summer months (April-September) over the 5-year period 2002-2006. Our hypothesis was that ambient O(3) levels in Prague resulted in adverse health outcomes and were associated with increased mortality and hospital admissions. METHODS: The effect of O(3) on mortality and hospital admissions was investigated using the negative binomial regression after controlling for the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature and relative humidity) and calendar effects (seasonal patterns, long-term trends and day of week). RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between O(3) levels and daily mortality from respiratory diseases. Relative risk of 1.080 (95% CI: 1.031-1.132) was observed for mortality from respiratory diseases per 10 μg m(-3) increase in 1-day lagged daily mean O(3) concentration. No statistically significant association was detected between O(3) concentrations and daily mortality from all causes, daily mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The O(3) effects differed in men and women, nevertheless, the results were ambiguous with respect to used lag and O(3) metrics. No significant confounding effects of PM(10) on the investigated association were observed. CONCLUSIONS: O(3) exposure in Prague, though lower as compared to many other cities in Europe, is high enough to cause adverse health effects.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0209359