Time Series Analysis on Atmospheric Particulate Matter with Outpatients of Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children in Shijiazhuang

Objective To investigate the effects of atmospheric particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) on the daily outpatients of acute lower respiratory infection in children in Shijiazhuang, and to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of atmospheric environment and the prevention and control of children with respiratory tract infection.

Methods The Poisson generalized additive model was used to analyze the effects of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ on the daily outpatients of acute lower respiratory infection in children, carry out (0-5) days of lag analysis and multi-pollutant model analysis; and to calculate the odds ratios of daily outpatient visits increase for every 10 μg/m³ increase in particulate matter.

Results Estimated effects of PM_2.5 on the outpatients of acute lower respiratory infection in children were statistically significant at lag0, lag1 day and cumulative lag01-lag03 day. Estimated effects of PM₁₀ on which were statistically significant at lag0-lag2 day and cumulative lag01-lag05 day. Estimated effects of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ on which were highest at lag0 day、cumulative lag01 day(PM_2.5) and at cumulative lag01、lag02 day(PM₁₀) respectively; for every 10 μg/m³ increase in concentration of PM_2.5 or PM₁₀, the daily outpatients of acute lower respiratory infection in children increased by 0.35%. The analysis result of multi-pollutant model showed that PM_2.5 was statistically significant only after the inclusion of SO₂, PM₁₀ was statistically significant after the inclusion other pollutants, but the highest OR was observed after the inclusion of SO₂.

Conclusions The increase of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations in Shijiazhuang City were associated with an increase in outpatient visits with acute lower respiratory infection in children, and the hysteresis effect of PM₁₀ was stronger than that of PM_2.5.