scholarly journals Communicating air pollution-related health risks to the public: An application of the Air Quality Health Index in Shanghai, China

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 168-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renjie Chen ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
Xia Meng ◽  
Jing Hua ◽  
Zhijun Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Health Index ◽  
The Public ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Air Quality Health Index

scholarly journals Factors influencing health behaviours in response to the air quality health index: a cross-sectional study in Hamilton, Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Radisic ◽  
K. Bruce Newbold ◽  
John Eyles ◽  
Allison Williams
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Air Quality Health Index ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Research associating adverse health effects with air pollution exposure is robust. Public health authorities recognize the need to implement population health strategies that protect public health from air pollution exposure. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a public health initiative that is intended to protect the public's health from exposure to air pollution. The aim of this research was to identify and explain factors influencing AQHI adoption at the individual level and to establish intervention strategies. A cross-sectional survey with both quantitative and qualitative questions was administered in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, during the months of June to October 2012. Logistic regression and the Health Belief Model are used to explore the data. Demographics (gender, age, education, and area of residence), knowledge/understanding, and individual risk perceptions (neighbourhood air effects on health) were found to be significant predictors of AQHI adoption. The perceived benefits of AQHI adoption included protection of health for self and those cared for via familial and (or) occupational duties, whereas the perceived barriers of AQHI adoption included lack of knowledge about where to check and lack of time required to check and follow AQHI health messages. Also, self-efficacy was uncovered as a factor influencing AQHI adoption. Accordingly, increases in AQHI adoption could be achieved via increasing AQHI knowledge among low socioeconomic status females, communicating the benefits of AQHI adoption to “at-risk” populations and implementing supports for males to follow AQHI health messages.

scholarly journals The air quality health index and emergency department visits for injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Mieczysław Szyszkowicz
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Air Quality Health Index

Abstract Introduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of ambient air quality with emergency department (ED) visits for injury. Aim. To explore correlations between ED visits for injury and ambient air pollution. Materials and methods. Considered health outcomes are ED visits for injury (ICD-9 codes: 800-999) in Edmonton, Canada, for the period from April 1998 to March 2002 (1,444 days). Air pollution concentration in the ambient air is represented as a daily maximum of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The AQHI value encapsulates levels of three urban ambient air pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter), weighted by constant risk coefficients. A time-stratified casecrossover design, using conditional logistic regression and conditional Poisson regression, was realized to assess the associations. The risk, reported as odds ratio and relative risk, was estimated using log-linear models and parametric non-linear concentrationresponse functions. Results. The strongest effects were observed for young male patients in the cold season (October-March). Lagged exposures were found to have positive statistically significant associations. Discussion. The study results indicate that air quality was associated with increased risk of daily ED visits for injury. This study determined concentration-response functions which allow one to assess the effects for various levels of the AQHI.

scholarly journals The Air Quality Health Index and Asthma Morbidity: A Population-Based Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa To ◽  
Shixin Shen ◽  
Eshetu G. Atenafu ◽  
Jun Guan ◽  
Susan McLimont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Asthma Morbidity ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Air Quality Health Index

scholarly journals Traffic Air Quality Health Index in a Selected Street, Alexandria

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Abdellatef ◽  
Gehan Zaki ◽  
Ahmed Issa
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Air Quality Health Index

scholarly journals A Multi-Pollutant Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Based on Short-Term Respiratory Effects in Stockholm, Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Olstrup ◽  
Christer Johansson ◽  
Bertil Forsberg ◽  
Andreas Tornevi ◽  
Agneta Ekebom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Birch Pollen ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Air Quality Health Index

In this study, an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for Stockholm is introduced as a tool to capture the combined effects associated with multi-pollutant exposure. Public information regarding the expected health risks associated with current or forecasted concentrations of pollutants and pollen can be very useful for sensitive persons when planning their outdoor activities. For interventions, it can also be important to know the contribution from pollen and the specific air pollutants, judged to cause the risk. The AQHI is based on an epidemiological analysis of asthma emergency department visits (AEDV) and urban background concentrations of NOx, O3, PM10 and birch pollen in Stockholm during 2001–2005. This analysis showed per 10 µg·m–3 increase in the mean of same day and yesterday an increase in AEDV of 0.5% (95% CI: −1.2–2.2), 0.3% (95% CI: −1.4–2.0) and 2.5% (95% CI: 0.3–4.8) for NOx, O3 and PM10, respectively. For birch pollen, the AEDV increased with 0.26% (95% CI: 0.18–0.34) for 10 pollen grains·m–3. In comparison with the coefficients in a meta-analysis, the mean values of the coefficients obtained in Stockholm are smaller. The mean value of the risk increase associated with PM10 is somewhat smaller than the mean value of the meta-coefficient, while for O3, it is less than one fifth of the meta-coefficient. We have not found any meta-coefficient using NOx as an indicator of AEDV, but compared to the mean value associated with NO2, our value of NOx is less than half as large. The AQHI is expressed as the predicted percentage increase in AEDV without any threshold level. When comparing the relative contribution of each pollutant to the total AQHI, based on monthly averages concentrations during the period 2015–2017, there is a tangible pattern. The AQHI increase associated with NOx exhibits a relatively even distribution throughout the year, but with a clear decrease during the summer months due to less traffic. O3 contributes to an increase in AQHI during the spring. For PM10, there is a significant increase during early spring associated with increased suspension of road dust. For birch pollen, there is a remarkable peak during the late spring and early summer during the flowering period. Based on monthly averages, the total AQHI during 2015–2017 varies between 4 and 9%, but with a peak value of almost 16% during the birch pollen season in the spring 2016. Based on daily mean values, the most important risk contribution during the study period is from PM10 with 3.1%, followed by O3 with 2.0%.

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