Abstract:
Little evidence is available on the strength of the association between ambient
air pollution exposure and health effects in developing countries such as South Africa. The
association between the 24-h average ambient PM10, SO2 and NO2 levels and daily
respiratory (RD), cardiovascular (CVD) and cerebrovascular (CBD) mortality in Cape
Town (2001–2006) was investigated with a case-crossover design. For models that
included entire year data, an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in PM10 (12 g/m3) and
NO2 (12 g/m3) significantly increased CBD mortality by 4% and 8%, respectively.
A significant increase of 3% in CVD mortality was observed per IQR increase in NO2 and
SO2 (8 g/m3). In the warm period, PM10 was significantly associated with RD and CVD
mortality. NO2 had significant associations with CBD, RD and CVD mortality, whilst SO2
was associated with CVD mortality. None of the pollutants were associated with any of the
three outcomes in the cold period. Susceptible groups depended on the cause-specific
mortality and air pollutant. There is significant RD, CVD and CBD mortality risk
associated with ambient air pollution exposure in South Africa, higher than reported in
developed countries.
