Effects of air pollution on mortality and morbidity in Samsun, Turkey

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between hospital admissions and hospitalizations from respiratory system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological and psychiatric diseases with the air pollution in the central districts of Samsun, 2018. The second aim of the study was to calculate the total number of deaths that can be attributed to air pollution with the AIR Q + program. Material and Methods: The study is an ecological type. Daily PM10 data were collected as the determinant of air pollution. The records of all applications and hospitalizations that received any of the ICD-10 diagnostic codes I00-99,J00-99,F00-99,G00-99 were included in the study. Correlation and regression analyzes were conducted to explain the relationships between hospital admissions, hospitalizations and PM10 and meteorological parameters. Results: The annual average of PM10 was found to be 50.4±19.3 μg/m3. There were positive and statistically significant correlations between the daily number of admissions of all diseases evaluated with PM10. Positive and statistically significant correlations were found between hospitalizations for only respiratory and cardiovascular system diseases with PM10. Admissions from respiratory system diseases (3%), cardiovascular (2%), neurological (1%) and psychiatric diseases (1%) and hospitalizations from respiratory diseases (%2) increased by for every 10 μg / m3 increase in PM10 level. The annual average of PM2.5 was found to be 31.8 μg/m3 using the AIR Q + program. The number of natural deaths that can be attributed to air pollution in 2018 was 835 (12.3%), and the estimated number of deaths attributable to 100,000 people at risk was 111.8 (RR: 1.14). Conclusion: Hospital admissions and hospitalizations are increasing due to air pollution. Many deaths and adverse health effects can be prevented by reducing the air pollution that increases especially in the winter period to the determined limit values.