{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["25(1)"],"submitter":["Lehtomaki H"],"pubmed_abstract":["<h4>Background</h4>Exposure to fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, even at low exposure levels (< 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup>). Burden of disease assessments can quantify these associations; however, their sensitivity to methodological choices limits comparability between studies.<h4>Methods</h4>This study aimed to quantify the impact of methodological choices on disease burden attributable to low levels of ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub>, using Norway as a case study. Key methodological choices included (i) population exposure data, (ii) concentration-response curves, and (iii) population health data. Data from national and international sources were applied, including the global burden of disease (GBD) study. Attributable mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were estimated using burden of disease methodology. Additionally, the impact of choices related to concentration-response curves was assessed for higher exposure levels, using a scenario where exposure distributions were shifted to mean exposures up to 30 µg/m<sup>3</sup>.<h4>Results</h4>Methodological choices related to the concentration-response curves had the largest impacts on the estimated attributable deaths, ranging from - 91% to 104% change relative to the reference estimate (1,448 deaths, 95% CI 502-1497). These choices had a smaller impact on higher exposure levels, varying from - 46% to 53%. The choice of exposure and population health data led to 40% differences in attributable death estimates. DALYs attributable to PM<sub>2.5</sub> were predominantly driven by years of life lost (YLL: 74%). The choice of relative risk (RR) for the concentration response curve caused around 30% variation in DALY estimates relative to the reference (11,730 DALYs; 5,980 - 16,790), with larger differences for ischemic heart disease (-44 to 79%).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Attributable burden estimates for PM<sub>2.5</sub> are highly sensitive to key methodological choices, particularly at low exposure levels. Consequently, transparent reporting of the methodological choices and data sources in PM<sub>2.5</sub> health risk assessments are required to improve comparability and facilitate interpretations of the burden estimates."],"journal":["Environmental health : a global access science source"],"pagination":["4"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12802007"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"pubmed_title":["Burden of disease attributable to PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; at low exposure levels: impact of methodological choices."],"pmcid":["PMC12802007"],"pubmed_authors":["Bolling AK","Pereira G","Aasvang GM","Brauer M","Lehtomaki H","Sulo G","Dadras O","Denby BR","Hanninen OO"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Burden of disease attributable to PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; at low exposure levels: impact of methodological choices.","description":"<h4>Background</h4>Exposure to fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, even at low exposure levels (< 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup>). Burden of disease assessments can quantify these associations; however, their sensitivity to methodological choices limits comparability between studies.<h4>Methods</h4>This study aimed to quantify the impact of methodological choices on disease burden attributable to low levels of ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub>, using Norway as a case study. Key methodological choices included (i) population exposure data, (ii) concentration-response curves, and (iii) population health data. Data from national and international sources were applied, including the global burden of disease (GBD) study. Attributable mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were estimated using burden of disease methodology. Additionally, the impact of choices related to concentration-response curves was assessed for higher exposure levels, using a scenario where exposure distributions were shifted to mean exposures up to 30 µg/m<sup>3</sup>.<h4>Results</h4>Methodological choices related to the concentration-response curves had the largest impacts on the estimated attributable deaths, ranging from - 91% to 104% change relative to the reference estimate (1,448 deaths, 95% CI 502-1497). These choices had a smaller impact on higher exposure levels, varying from - 46% to 53%. The choice of exposure and population health data led to 40% differences in attributable death estimates. DALYs attributable to PM<sub>2.5</sub> were predominantly driven by years of life lost (YLL: 74%). The choice of relative risk (RR) for the concentration response curve caused around 30% variation in DALY estimates relative to the reference (11,730 DALYs; 5,980 - 16,790), with larger differences for ischemic heart disease (-44 to 79%).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Attributable burden estimates for PM<sub>2.5</sub> are highly sensitive to key methodological choices, particularly at low exposure levels. Consequently, transparent reporting of the methodological choices and data sources in PM<sub>2.5</sub> health risk assessments are required to improve comparability and facilitate interpretations of the burden estimates.","dates":{"release":"2025-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2025 Dec","modification":"2026-06-06T14:55:11.119Z","creation":"2026-06-01T03:07:44.944Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12802007","cross_references":{"pubmed":["41382282"],"doi":["10.1186/s12940-025-01250-y"]}}