The burden of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and lung cancer attributable to PM2.5 for 2009, Guangzhou: a retrospective population-based study

ABSTRACTParticulate matter pollution has become a widely-concerned issue in public health and led to a substantial loss of health. The study reports relationship between particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and years of life lost (YLL) in Guangzhou. A retrospective burden analysis on annual mean PM2.5 data was conducted. Data on annual mortality were collected for 2009, from the Health Department of Guangzhou. Data on particulate matter were collected for period 2006–2009. Comparative risk assessment and exposure-response function were used to estimate attributable YLL. The exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a total of 454.6 YLLs (95% uncertainty interval 449.0–460.1) per 100,000 people in 2009. This study has confirmed the substantial adverse health effects of PM2.5 exposure in population with cardio-cerebrovascular disease and lung cancer. This study highlights the need to reduce ambient particulate pollution for better environmental health and lower burden of disease.