Season, Sex, Age, and Education as Modifiers of the Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution on Daily Mortality in Shanghai, China: The Public Health and Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA) Study
2008

Effects of Air Pollution on Daily Mortality in Shanghai

Sample size: 1461 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kan Haidong, Stephanie J. London, Chen Guohai, Zhang Yunhui, Song Guixiang, Zhao Naiqing, Jiang Lili, Chen Bingheng

Primary Institution: Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Hypothesis

How do season, sex, age, and education modify the effects of outdoor air pollution on daily mortality?

Conclusion

Season, sex, age, and education may modify the health effects of outdoor air pollution in Shanghai.

Supporting Evidence

  • An increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM10 corresponds to a 0.25% increase in all-cause mortality.
  • Effects of air pollutants were more evident in the cool season than in the warm season.
  • Females and the elderly were more vulnerable to outdoor air pollution.
  • Residents with low educational attainment experienced greater effects from air pollution compared to those with higher education.

Takeaway

Air pollution can make people sick and even cause death, and some groups, like older people and those with less education, are more affected.

Methodology

A time-series analysis using a natural spline model to examine the effects of air pollution on daily mortality over four years.

Potential Biases

Potential measurement error in exposure assessment and limited generalizability due to the study being conducted in a single city.

Limitations

The study is limited to one city, and the data may not represent personal exposure accurately.

Participant Demographics

The study included around 6.3 million permanent residents in Shanghai, with a male/female ratio of 100.9% and 11.9% elderly individuals.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 0.14–0.37

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1289/ehp.10851

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