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Particulate matter

PM2.5 components and hospital admissions

Zanobetti A, Franklin M, Koutrakis P, et al. · Environmental health : a global access science source · 2009

Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC

A 10 μg/m³ rise in two-day PM2.5 was linked to about 1.9% more cardiac emergency admissions in 26 US communities.

Study at a glance

Design
Other — Seasonal Poisson time-series of Medicare emergency admissions vs PM2.5 and composition
N
N=685716 · 685,716 CVD admissions across 26 US communities (2000–2003); other causes also analyzed
Population
Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 in 26 US communities
Outcome
Cause-specific emergency admissions related to PM2.5 mass and species ratios

Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.

Key findings

Per 10 μg/m³: +1.89% CVD, +2.25% MI, +2.07% respiratory admissions; composition modified toxicity so mass alone is incomplete.

Methodology

Ran seasonal Poisson time-series of Medicare emergency admissions (2000–2003) against PM2.5, then meta-regressed effects on particle species-to-mass ratios.

Limitations

Does not identify a single causal species or include people under 65.

How this study connects

Role on claims

Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.

  • SupportsTime-Series Analysismethod

    A seasonal Poisson Medicare analysis (2000–2003) related emergency admissions to PM₂.₅, then meta-regressed effects on particle species-to-mass ratios. Per 10 μg/m³: +1.89% cardiovascular, +2.25% MI and +2.07% respiratory admissions. Composition modified toxicity, so mass alone was incomplete. The series does not include people under 65.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

  • SupportsTime-Series Analysismethod

    City hospital series do not agree on which pollutant or lag carries the acute signal. Nicosia finds same-day PM₁₀ for all-cause admissions (0.85% per 10 μg/m³) and lag-1 ozone for cardiovascular admissions (2.91% per 10 ppb) but no overall PM₁₀–respiratory link. Canadian EDs find CO/NO₂ most consistent for cardiac diagnoses and ozone for asthma/COPD, with 3-hour averages null and Edmonton dominating the sample. Medicare finds PM₂.₅ mass plus composition for CVD, MI and respiratory admissions among those 65+. Treating 'time series show pollution raises admissions' as one coefficient hides those splits.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

Open questions

Tensions this paper is part of

From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.

  • Scope difference — different assays, populations, or outcomes

    City hospital series do not agree on which pollutant or lag carries the acute signal. Nicosia finds same-day PM₁₀ for all-cause admissions (0.85% per 10 μg/m³) and lag-1 ozone for cardiovascular admissions (2.91% per 10 ppb) but no overall PM₁₀–respiratory link. Canadian EDs find CO/NO₂ most consistent for cardiac diagnoses and ozone for asthma/COPD, with 3-hour averages null and Edmonton dominating the sample. Medicare finds PM₂.₅ mass plus composition for CVD, MI and respiratory admissions among those 65+. Treating 'time series show pollution raises admissions' as one coefficient hides those splits.

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