The short term burden of ambient fine particulate matter on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Ningbo, China

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have found associations between ambient fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) and increased mortality risk. However, little evidence is available on associations between PM(2.5) and years of life lost (YLL). We aimed to estimate the YLL due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality related to ambient PM(2.5) exposure. METHODS: A time-series study was conducted based on the data on air pollutants, meteorological conditions and 18,472 registered COPD deaths in Ningbo, China, 2011–2015. The effects of PM(2.5) on YLL and daily death of COPD were estimated, after controlling long term trend, meteorological index and other confounders. RESULTS: The impact of PM(2.5) on YLL due to COPD lasted for 5 days (lag 0–4). Per 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) was associated with 0.91 (95%CI: 0.16, 1.66) years increase in YLL. The excess YLL of COPD mortality were 8206 years, and 0.38 day per person in Ningbo from 2011 to 2015. The exposure-response curve of PM(2.5) and YLL due to COPD showed a non-linear pattern, with relatively steep at low levels and flattened out at higher exposures.. Furthermore, the effects were significantly higher in the elderly than those in the younger. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings explored burden of PM(2.5) on YLL due to COPD and highlight the importance and urgency of ambient PM(2.5) pollution control and protection of the vulnerable populations. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0253-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.