Environmental health perspectives

How low levels of fine air pollution relate to death rates in Canada over three census periods

Updated

Abstract

The mean 3-year annual average estimate of PM2.5 exposure ranged from 6.7 to 10 μg/m³ across three Canadian cohorts.

  • A hazard ratio of 1.053 per 10 μg/m³ change in PM2.5 was estimated after combining data from three cohorts.
  • This hazard ratio indicates an increased risk of nonaccidental mortality associated with higher PM2.5 exposure.
  • The association observed was supralinear, meaning that the risk may increase more sharply at higher concentrations.
  • For the 1991 cohort, the confidence intervals for the hazard ratio exceeded 1 for all concentrations studied.
  • In the 1996 cohort, significant risk was noted at concentrations above 5 μg/m³, while the 2001 cohort showed risk at concentrations above 2 μg/m³.

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