The Air Quality Health Index and all emergency department visits
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2019-06-22
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Szyszkowicz, Mieczysław
- Publisher
- Springer
Abstract
Through a variety of media formats, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) has served as a valuable communication tool for the general Canadian population for several years. This index, calculated and communicated to the public on an hourly basis, is designed to provide important information on the impact of air quality on health. This presentation outlines the association between AQHI values and, for the first time, all-cause emergency department (ED) visits (over one million diagnosed ED visits). It is assumed that a higher AQHI value, reflecting increased health risk, will encourage people to take steps to reduce their exposure, by limiting the duration and intensity of outdoor activity. The case-crossover methodology was used to assess the associations between the considered exposure and ED visits. The results, the estimated odds ratios, are presented as non-linear concentration-response functions. We argue that air health effects, measured as the total number of all-cause ED visits, are related to the values of the AQHI. We postulate that there are differences in this association between males and females, possibly due to gender-specific behavior and/or health conditions.
Plain language summary
Health Canada is responsible for evaluating the health risks posed by ambient air pollution exposure in the Canadian population. Air pollutants may negatively affect various aspects of human health. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was introduced as a tool designed to provide information on the impact of air quality on health. To recognize the relations between the AQHI values and health, the associations between emergency department (ED) visits and the levels of the AQHI were estimated. The results indicate positive associations between exposure (measured by the levels of the index value) and health problems (measured by ED); mainly for the exposure from the previous day, and for male patients. This study determined concentration - response functions. It allows one to assess the effects for various levels of the AQHI. These findings are an important contribution to a better understanding of how the degree or intensity of health effect varies with the scale of the AQHI. This type of information is useful for both risk assessment and risk management relating to the health effects of ambient air pollutants, and in developing policies aimed at reducing their health impacts
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety