Short-term effects of particulate matter on total mortality during Saharan dust outbreaks: A case-crossover analysis in Madrid (Spain)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 412; pp. 386 - 389
• Main Authors: Tobías, Aurelio, Pérez, Laura, Díaz, Julio, Linares, Cristina, Pey, Jorge, Alastruey, Andrés, Querol, Xavier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Air Movements; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Case-Control Studies; Case-crossover; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Cities - epidemiology; Cross-Over Studies; Design engineering; Dust; Dust - analysis; Environmental Exposure; Female; Health; Humans; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mortality; Outbreaks; Particle Size; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Populations; Risk; Saharan dust; Spain - epidemiology; Toxicology; Young Adult; Europe; Spain; Africa, Sahara Desert; Spain, Castilla, Madrid; Saharan dust; Particulate matter; Mortality; Case-crossover; Short term; Epidemic; Human; Statistical analysis; Sand; Case control study; Epidemiology; Suspended particle; Dust; Health and environment; Case-crossover study; Public health
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.10.027

The role of Saharan dust outbreaks on the relationship between particulate matter and daily mortality has recently been addressed in studies conducted in Southern Europe, although they have not given consistent results. We investigated the effects of coarse (PM 10–2.5) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in Madrid on total mortality during Saharan dust and non-dust days using a case-crossover design. During Saharan dust days, an increase of 10 mg/m 3 of PM 10–2.5 raised total mortality by 2.8% compared with 0.6% during non-dust days (P-value for interaction = 0.0165). We found evidence of stronger adverse health effects of PM 10–2.5 during Saharan dust outbreaks effects for impacted European populations, but not for PM 2.5. Further research is needed to understand mechanisms by which Saharan dust increases risk of mortality.