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Time-series analysis of ambient PM2.5 and cardiorespiratory emergency room visits in Lima, Peru during 2010–2016

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 30, pages 680–688 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

There have been no time-series studies of air pollution in Peru. Here we evaluate the effect of ambient PM2.5 on emergency room (ER) visits in Lima.

Methods

We estimated daily PM2.5 levels at a 1 km2 resolution during 2010–2016 using ground measurements, satellite data, and chemical transport model simulations. Population-weighted average daily PM2.5 levels were calculated for each district in Lima (n = 40), and assigned to patients based on residence. ER visits for respiratory and circulatory diseases were gathered from nine large public hospitals. Poisson regression was used to estimate the rate ratio for daily ER visits with change in daily PM2.5, controlling for meteorology, time trends, and district.

Results

For each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5, respiratory disease ER visits increased 4% (95% CI: 0–5%), stroke visits 10% (3–18%), and ischemic heart disease visits (adults, 18–64 years) 11% (−1, 24%). Districts with higher poverty showed significantly stronger associations of PM2.5 and respiratory disease ER visits than districts with lower poverty. Effects were diminished 24–42% using Lima-wide instead of district-specific PM2.5 levels.

Conclusions

Short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is associated with increases in ER visits in Lima for respiratory diseases and stroke, and among middle-aged adults, ischemic heart disease.

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Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by the NIH Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) R01ES018845, R01ES018845-S1, National Cancer Institute, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the NIH under Award Number U01 TW0101 07. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We thank our colleagues at the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM/SENAMHI) for their collaboration throughout this project.

Funding

The present study was founded by the National Institutes of Health (Fogarty Program) [Grant U01TW010107, 1/2 Regional GEOHealth Hub centered in Peru].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy, and Laboratory of Investigation and Development, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

    V. Tapia, O. Sánchez-Ccoyllo, V. Vasquez & G. F. Gonzales

  2. Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory U., Atlanta, GA, USA

    K. Steenland, S. E. Sarnat, B. Vu & Y. Liu

  3. Professional Career of Environmental Engineering, Universidad Nacional Tecnológica de Lima Sur (UNTELS), Lima, Peru

    O. Sánchez-Ccoyllo

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Correspondence to K. Steenland.

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Tapia, V., Steenland, K., Sarnat, S.E. et al. Time-series analysis of ambient PM2.5 and cardiorespiratory emergency room visits in Lima, Peru during 2010–2016. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 30, 680–688 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0189-3

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