Wildfire-specific Fine Particulate Matter and Risk of Hospital Admissions in Urban and Rural Counties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The health impacts of wildfire smoke, including fine particles (PM2.5), are not well understood and may differ from those of PM2.5 from other sources due to differences in concentrations and chemical composition.

Methods

First, for the entire Western United States (561 counties) for 2004-2009, we estimated daily PM2.5 concentrations directly attributable to wildfires (wildfires-specific PM2.5), using a global chemical transport model. Second, we defined smoke wave as ≥2 consecutive days with daily wildfire-specific PM2.5 > 20 μg/m, with sensitivity analysis considering 23, 28, and 37 μg/m. Third, we estimated the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions associated with smoke waves for Medicare enrollees. We used a generalized linear mixed model t

SUBMITTER: Liu JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5130603 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature