The association between particulate air pollution and respiratory admissions among young children in Hanoi, Vietnam

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-02, Vol.578, p.249-255
• Main Authors: Luong, Ly M.T., Phung, Dung, Sly, Peter D., Morawska, Lidia, Thai, Phong K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Airborne particles; Child, Preschool; Children; Cities; Cross-Over Studies; Environmental Exposure; Female; Hanoi; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Particulate air pollution; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Respiratory admission; Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.012

While the effects of ambient air pollution on health have been studied extensively in many developed countries, few studies have been conducted in Vietnam, where the population is exposed to high levels of airborne particulate matter. The aim of our study was to examine the short-term effects of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 on respiratory admissions among young children in Hanoi. Data on daily admissions from the Vietnam National Hospital of Paediatrics and daily records of PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and other confounding factors as NO2, SO2, CO, O3 and temperature were collected from September 2010 to September 2011. A time-stratified case-crossover design with individual lag model was applied to evaluate the associations between particulate air pollution and respiratory admissions. Significant effects on daily hospital admissions for respiratory disease were found for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. An increase in 10μg/m3 of PM10, PM2.5 or PM1 was associated with an increase in risk of admission of 1.4%, 2.2% or 2.5% on the same day of exposure, respectively. No significant difference between the effects on males and females was found in the study. The study demonstrated that infants and young children in Hanoi are at increased risk of respiratory admissions due to the high level of airborne particles in the city's ambient air. [Display omitted] •First study on human health impact of air pollution in the north of Vietnam•Elevated levels of PM10, PM2.5 or PM1 were associated with respiratory admissions.•The smaller PM could have stronger impact on children respiratory admission.•Urgent intervention measures are needed to control air pollution in Vietnam.