Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents

Chit Ming Wong; Hak Kan Lai; Hilda Tsang; Thuan Quoc Thach; G Neil Thomas; Kin Bong Hubert Lam; King Pan Chan; Lin Yang; Alexis K H Lau; Jon G Ayres; Siu Yin Lee; Wai Man Chan; Anthony J Hedley; Tai Hing Lam

doi:10.1289/ehp.1408264

Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents

Chit Ming Wong, Hak Kan Lai, Hilda Tsang, Thuan Quoc Thach, G Neil Thomas, Kin Bong Hubert Lam, King Pan Chan, Lin Yang, Alexis K H Lau, Jon G Ayres, Siu Yin Lee, Wai Man Chan, Anthony J Hedley, Tai Hing Lam

Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

100 Citations (Scopus)

211 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies on long-term effects of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health suggest it can be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In Asia where air quality is poor and deteriorating, local data on long-term effects of PM2.5 to support policy on air quality management are scarce.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed long-term effects of PM2.5 on the mortality in a single Asian city.

METHODS: For 10-13 years, we followed up a cohort of 66,820 participants ≥ 65 years of age who were enrolled and interviewed in all 18 Elderly Health Centres of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, in 1998-2001. Their residential addresses were geocoded into x- and y-coordinates, and their proxy exposures to PM2.5 at their addresses in 1 × 1 km grids were estimated from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite data. We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality associated with PM2.5.

RESULTS: Mortality HRs per 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.22) for all natural causes, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) for cardiovascular causes, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.73) for ischemic heart disease, 1.24 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.53) for cerebrovascular disease, and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.22) for respiratory causes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our methods in using NASA satellite data provide a readily accessible and affordable approach to estimation of a sufficient range of individual PM2.5 exposures in a single city. This approach can expand the capacity to conduct environmental accountability studies in areas with few measurements of fine particles.

CITATION: Wong CM, Lai HK, Tsang H, Thach TQ, Thomas GN, Lam KB, Chan KP, Yang L, Lau AK, Ayres JG, Lee SY, Chan WM, Hedley AJ, Lam TH. 2015. Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents. Environ Health Perspect 123:1167-1172; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1167-72
Number of pages	6
Journal	Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume	123
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264
Publication status	Published - Nov 2015

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1289/ehp.1408264

ehp.1408264.alt
Eligibility for repository: Checked on 19/1/2016
Final published version, 839 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

Wong, C. M., Lai, H. K., Tsang, H., Thach, T. Q., Thomas, G. N., Lam, K. B. H., Chan, K. P., Yang, L., Lau, A. K. H., Ayres, J. G., Lee, S. Y., Man Chan, W., Hedley, A. J., & Lam, T. H. (2015). Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123(11), 1167-72. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264

@article{cb7aa083910840bd81121283630daa8b,

title = "Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies on long-term effects of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health suggest it can be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In Asia where air quality is poor and deteriorating, local data on long-term effects of PM2.5 to support policy on air quality management are scarce.OBJECTIVES: We assessed long-term effects of PM2.5 on the mortality in a single Asian city.METHODS: For 10-13 years, we followed up a cohort of 66,820 participants ≥ 65 years of age who were enrolled and interviewed in all 18 Elderly Health Centres of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, in 1998-2001. Their residential addresses were geocoded into x- and y-coordinates, and their proxy exposures to PM2.5 at their addresses in 1 × 1 km grids were estimated from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite data. We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality associated with PM2.5.RESULTS: Mortality HRs per 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.22) for all natural causes, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) for cardiovascular causes, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.73) for ischemic heart disease, 1.24 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.53) for cerebrovascular disease, and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.22) for respiratory causes.CONCLUSIONS: Our methods in using NASA satellite data provide a readily accessible and affordable approach to estimation of a sufficient range of individual PM2.5 exposures in a single city. This approach can expand the capacity to conduct environmental accountability studies in areas with few measurements of fine particles.CITATION: Wong CM, Lai HK, Tsang H, Thach TQ, Thomas GN, Lam KB, Chan KP, Yang L, Lau AK, Ayres JG, Lee SY, Chan WM, Hedley AJ, Lam TH. 2015. Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents. Environ Health Perspect 123:1167-1172; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264.",

author = "Wong, {Chit Ming} and Lai, {Hak Kan} and Hilda Tsang and Thach, {Thuan Quoc} and Thomas, {G Neil} and Lam, {Kin Bong Hubert} and Chan, {King Pan} and Lin Yang and Lau, {Alexis K H} and Ayres, {Jon G} and Lee, {Siu Yin} and {Man Chan}, Wai and Hedley, {Anthony J} and Lam, {Tai Hing}",

year = "2015",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1289/ehp.1408264",

language = "English",

volume = "123",

pages = "1167--72",

journal = "Environmental Health Perspectives",

issn = "0091-6765",

publisher = "National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences",

number = "11",

}

Wong, CM, Lai, HK, Tsang, H, Thach, TQ, Thomas, GN, Lam, KBH, Chan, KP, Yang, L, Lau, AKH, Ayres, JG, Lee, SY, Man Chan, W, Hedley, AJ & Lam, TH 2015, 'Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents', Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 123, no. 11, pp. 1167-72. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264

TY - JOUR

T1 - Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents

AU - Wong, Chit Ming

AU - Lai, Hak Kan

AU - Tsang, Hilda

AU - Thach, Thuan Quoc

AU - Thomas, G Neil

AU - Lam, Kin Bong Hubert

AU - Chan, King Pan

AU - Yang, Lin

AU - Lau, Alexis K H

AU - Ayres, Jon G

AU - Lee, Siu Yin

AU - Man Chan, Wai

AU - Hedley, Anthony J

AU - Lam, Tai Hing

PY - 2015/11

Y1 - 2015/11

N2 - BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies on long-term effects of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health suggest it can be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In Asia where air quality is poor and deteriorating, local data on long-term effects of PM2.5 to support policy on air quality management are scarce.OBJECTIVES: We assessed long-term effects of PM2.5 on the mortality in a single Asian city.METHODS: For 10-13 years, we followed up a cohort of 66,820 participants ≥ 65 years of age who were enrolled and interviewed in all 18 Elderly Health Centres of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, in 1998-2001. Their residential addresses were geocoded into x- and y-coordinates, and their proxy exposures to PM2.5 at their addresses in 1 × 1 km grids were estimated from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite data. We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality associated with PM2.5.RESULTS: Mortality HRs per 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.22) for all natural causes, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) for cardiovascular causes, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.73) for ischemic heart disease, 1.24 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.53) for cerebrovascular disease, and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.22) for respiratory causes.CONCLUSIONS: Our methods in using NASA satellite data provide a readily accessible and affordable approach to estimation of a sufficient range of individual PM2.5 exposures in a single city. This approach can expand the capacity to conduct environmental accountability studies in areas with few measurements of fine particles.CITATION: Wong CM, Lai HK, Tsang H, Thach TQ, Thomas GN, Lam KB, Chan KP, Yang L, Lau AK, Ayres JG, Lee SY, Chan WM, Hedley AJ, Lam TH. 2015. Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents. Environ Health Perspect 123:1167-1172; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264.

AB - BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies on long-term effects of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health suggest it can be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In Asia where air quality is poor and deteriorating, local data on long-term effects of PM2.5 to support policy on air quality management are scarce.OBJECTIVES: We assessed long-term effects of PM2.5 on the mortality in a single Asian city.METHODS: For 10-13 years, we followed up a cohort of 66,820 participants ≥ 65 years of age who were enrolled and interviewed in all 18 Elderly Health Centres of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, in 1998-2001. Their residential addresses were geocoded into x- and y-coordinates, and their proxy exposures to PM2.5 at their addresses in 1 × 1 km grids were estimated from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite data. We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality associated with PM2.5.RESULTS: Mortality HRs per 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.22) for all natural causes, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) for cardiovascular causes, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.73) for ischemic heart disease, 1.24 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.53) for cerebrovascular disease, and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.22) for respiratory causes.CONCLUSIONS: Our methods in using NASA satellite data provide a readily accessible and affordable approach to estimation of a sufficient range of individual PM2.5 exposures in a single city. This approach can expand the capacity to conduct environmental accountability studies in areas with few measurements of fine particles.CITATION: Wong CM, Lai HK, Tsang H, Thach TQ, Thomas GN, Lam KB, Chan KP, Yang L, Lau AK, Ayres JG, Lee SY, Chan WM, Hedley AJ, Lam TH. 2015. Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents. Environ Health Perspect 123:1167-1172; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408264.

U2 - 10.1289/ehp.1408264

DO - 10.1289/ehp.1408264

M3 - Article

C2 - 25910279

SN - 0091-6765

VL - 123

SP - 1167

EP - 1172

JO - Environmental Health Perspectives

JF - Environmental Health Perspectives

IS - 11

ER -

Satellite-based estimates of long-term exposure to fine particles and association with mortality in elderly Hong Kong residents

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this