The prospective effects of long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and constituents on mortality in rural East China

  • Yun Chen
  • , Renjie Chen
  • , Yue Chen
  • , Xiaolian Dong
  • , Jianfu Zhu
  • , Cong Liu
  • , Aaron van Donkelaar
  • , Randall V. Martin
  • , Huichu Li
  • , Haidong Kan
  • , Qingwu Jiang
  • , Chaowei Fu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Few cohort studies explored the associations of long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and its chemical constituents with mortality risk in rural China. We conducted a 12-year prospective study of 28,793 adults in rural Deqing, China from 2006 to 2018. Annual mean PM2.5 and its constituents, including black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3), sulfate (SO42−), and soil dust were measured at participants’ addresses at enrollment from a satellite-based exposure predicting model. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) of long-term exposure to PM2.5 for mortality. A total of 1960 deaths were identified during the follow-up. We found PM2.5, BC, OC, NH4+, NO3, and SO42− were significantly associated with an increased risk of non-accidental mortality. The HR for non-accidental mortality was 1.17 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.28) for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. As for constituents, the strongest association was found for BC (HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.33), followed by NO3, NH4+, SO42−, and OC (HR = 1.14–1.17 per interquartile range). A non-linear relationship was found between PM2.5 and non-accidental mortality. Similar associations were found for cardio-cerebrovascular and cancer mortality. Associations were stronger among men and ever smokers. Conclusively, we found long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its chemical constituents (especially BC and NO3) increased mortality risk. Our results suggested the importance of adopting effective targeted emission control to improve air quality for health protection in rural East China.

Original languageEnglish
Article number130740
JournalChemosphere
Volume280
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Chemical constituents
  • Cohort study
  • Long-term exposure
  • Mortality
  • PM
  • Rural population

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