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

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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

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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

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