Pulmonary Disease Risks Linked to PM2.5 and Black Carbon Using Emergency Room Visits and Hospital Admissions in Karachi

HAIDER KHWAJA, Fatim Sannoh, Zafar Fatmi, Nadeem Rizvi, Aftab Turabi, Kamran Khan, Mirza M. Hussain, Azhar Siddique, David Carpenter, University at Albany

     Abstract Number: 198
     Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols

Abstract
Air pollution is a major problem of concern in developing countries of South Asia. No prior studies exist in a megacity Karachi, Pakistan evaluating the short-term effects of ambient air pollution on pulmonary diseases. This study delved into the linkage between fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and black carbon (BC) levels and pulmonary emergency room visits (ER) and hospital admissions (HA). Daily PM_2.5 samples were collected at four monitoring sites in Karachi for six continuous weeks each quarter. A time-series analysis using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) estimated the relative risk of associations between PM_2.5, BC and pulmonary diseases. Data revealed fluctuations between PM_2.5 exposure and pulmonary diseases across different sites. Significant associations were observed at the University of Karachi (KU) and Macro sites, where PM_2.5 exposure correlated with increased risk of shortness of breath (SOB) among both sexes, with a stronger risk for females at the KU site. Males at the Macro site exhibited higher risks for total pulmonary diseases. Age-stratified analysis showed higher risks for pulmonary diseases in patients aged 0-50 at the KU, Macro, and Malir sites. PM_2.5 exposure was associated with SOB and asthma among this age group, with significant risks at delayed lag days. Exposure of high levels of BC was significantly associated with asthma among patients aged 0-50 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among the elderly at the KU site. The findings accentuate the pressing pulmonary health risks from PM_2.5 and BC exposure, beckon a call for targeted interventions to mitigate air pollution and its health impacts, especially among vulnerable populations in major cities of Pakistan.