Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment
Background: People living in Australian cities face increased mortality risks from exposure to extreme air pollution events due to bushfires and dust storms. However, the burden of mortality attributable to exceptional PM2.5 levels has not been well characterised. We assessed the burden of mortality...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024005632 |
| _version_ | 1797328672682672128 |
|---|---|
| author | Lucas Hertzog Geoffrey G. Morgan Cassandra Yuen Karthik Gopi Gavin F. Pereira Fay H. Johnston Martin Cope Timothy B. Chaston Aditya Vyas Sotiris Vardoulakis Ivan C. Hanigan |
| author_facet | Lucas Hertzog Geoffrey G. Morgan Cassandra Yuen Karthik Gopi Gavin F. Pereira Fay H. Johnston Martin Cope Timothy B. Chaston Aditya Vyas Sotiris Vardoulakis Ivan C. Hanigan |
| author_sort | Lucas Hertzog |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: People living in Australian cities face increased mortality risks from exposure to extreme air pollution events due to bushfires and dust storms. However, the burden of mortality attributable to exceptional PM2.5 levels has not been well characterised. We assessed the burden of mortality due to PM2.5 pollution events in Australian capital cities between 2001 and 2020. Methods: For this health impact assessment, we obtained data on daily counts of deaths for all non-accidental causes and ages from the Australian National Vital Statistics Register. Daily concentrations of PM2.5 were estimated at a 5 km grid cell, using a Random Forest statistical model of data from air pollution monitoring sites combined with a range of satellite and land use-related data. We calculated the exceptional PM2.5 levels for each extreme pollution exposure day using the deviation from a seasonal and trend loess decomposition model. The burden of mortality was examined using a relative risk concentration-response function suggested in the literature. Findings: Over the 20-year study period, we estimated 1454 (95 % CI 987, 1920) deaths in the major Australian cities attributable to exceptional PM2.5 exposure levels. The mortality burden due to PM2.5 exposure on extreme pollution days was considerable. Variations were observed across Australia. Despite relatively low daily PM2.5 levels compared to global averages, all Australian cities have extreme pollution exposure days, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organisation Air Quality Guideline standard for 24-h exposure. Our analysis results indicate that nearly one-third of deaths from extreme air pollution exposure can be prevented with a 5 % reduction in PM2.5 levels on days with exceptional pollution. Interpretation: Exposure to exceptional PM2.5 events was associated with an increased mortality burden in Australia's cities. Policies and coordinated action are needed to manage the health risks of extreme air pollution events due to bushfires and dust storms under climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:55:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82433f0560ce459d9b228d01359fbefa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:55:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-82433f0560ce459d9b228d01359fbefa2024-02-03T06:37:48ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-01-01102e24532Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessmentLucas Hertzog0Geoffrey G. Morgan1Cassandra Yuen2Karthik Gopi3Gavin F. Pereira4Fay H. Johnston5Martin Cope6Timothy B. Chaston7Aditya Vyas8Sotiris Vardoulakis9Ivan C. Hanigan10Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia; WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment, WA, 6102, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia; Corresponding author. Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia.Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia; Centre for Safe Air, NHMRC CRE, Australia; University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, 2480, AustraliaCurtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, AustraliaSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia; University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, 2480, AustraliaCurtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia; EnAble Institute, Curtin University, WA, 6102, AustraliaCentre for Safe Air, NHMRC CRE, Australia; Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, AustraliaCSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Melbourne, AustraliaEnvironment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria, Melbourne, AustraliaCurtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia; WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment, WA, 6102, AustraliaHealthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia; National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2061, AustraliaCurtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, WA, 6102, Australia; WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment, WA, 6102, Australia; Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australia; Centre for Safe Air, NHMRC CRE, AustraliaBackground: People living in Australian cities face increased mortality risks from exposure to extreme air pollution events due to bushfires and dust storms. However, the burden of mortality attributable to exceptional PM2.5 levels has not been well characterised. We assessed the burden of mortality due to PM2.5 pollution events in Australian capital cities between 2001 and 2020. Methods: For this health impact assessment, we obtained data on daily counts of deaths for all non-accidental causes and ages from the Australian National Vital Statistics Register. Daily concentrations of PM2.5 were estimated at a 5 km grid cell, using a Random Forest statistical model of data from air pollution monitoring sites combined with a range of satellite and land use-related data. We calculated the exceptional PM2.5 levels for each extreme pollution exposure day using the deviation from a seasonal and trend loess decomposition model. The burden of mortality was examined using a relative risk concentration-response function suggested in the literature. Findings: Over the 20-year study period, we estimated 1454 (95 % CI 987, 1920) deaths in the major Australian cities attributable to exceptional PM2.5 exposure levels. The mortality burden due to PM2.5 exposure on extreme pollution days was considerable. Variations were observed across Australia. Despite relatively low daily PM2.5 levels compared to global averages, all Australian cities have extreme pollution exposure days, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organisation Air Quality Guideline standard for 24-h exposure. Our analysis results indicate that nearly one-third of deaths from extreme air pollution exposure can be prevented with a 5 % reduction in PM2.5 levels on days with exceptional pollution. Interpretation: Exposure to exceptional PM2.5 events was associated with an increased mortality burden in Australia's cities. Policies and coordinated action are needed to manage the health risks of extreme air pollution events due to bushfires and dust storms under climate change.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024005632Particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5)Daily mortalityShort-term air pollution exposureClimate changeExtreme weather events |
| spellingShingle | Lucas Hertzog Geoffrey G. Morgan Cassandra Yuen Karthik Gopi Gavin F. Pereira Fay H. Johnston Martin Cope Timothy B. Chaston Aditya Vyas Sotiris Vardoulakis Ivan C. Hanigan Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment Heliyon Particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) Daily mortality Short-term air pollution exposure Climate change Extreme weather events |
| title | Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment |
| title_full | Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment |
| title_fullStr | Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment |
| title_short | Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment |
| title_sort | mortality burden attributable to exceptional pm2 5 air pollution events in australian cities a health impact assessment |
| topic | Particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) Daily mortality Short-term air pollution exposure Climate change Extreme weather events |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024005632 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucashertzog mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT geoffreygmorgan mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT cassandrayuen mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT karthikgopi mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT gavinfpereira mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT fayhjohnston mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT martincope mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT timothybchaston mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT adityavyas mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT sotirisvardoulakis mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment AT ivanchanigan mortalityburdenattributabletoexceptionalpm25airpollutioneventsinaustraliancitiesahealthimpactassessment |