Assessment of the health risks from air pollution in Peja municipality

Session

Medicine and Nursing

Description

Air pollution is a global threat that contributes to mortality and morbidity. However, globally 7.3 billion people, or 94 percent of the world population, face air pollution levels considered unsafe by the WHO. Objectives: To present pattern of ambient air pollution and determine its possible association with short term health effects indicators in Peja municipality. Methods: The air pollutants concentrations from annual reports Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency recorded in air quality station in Peja municipality and the number of emergency visits, number of general hospital admissions, data according to diseases coded according to ICD-10, number of premature deaths from Peja hospital database are collected, to asses potential association of these determinants. Results: The comparison of health effects of main air pollutants, PM10 and PM2.5 particles, showed no positive correlation in absolute numbers between their concentration and the number of emergency visits, hospital admissions, asthma and heart attack. Nevertheless, a correlation between elevated PM10 and PM2.5 and increased hospital admissions, emergency visits of COPD- COPD exacerbations are observed. The correlation was noted during winter months when fossil waste burning is coupled with deteriorated atmospheric conditions. Conclusion: Although the pollution values during whole year are not critical, the interventions should be oriented towards preventive interventions. Policies targeting air pollution reduction should be strongly enforced to reduce its health effects.

Keywords:

air pollution, public health assessment, morbidity, mortality PM2.5, PM10.

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

Location

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Start Date

25-10-2024 9:00 AM

End Date

27-10-2024 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2024.379

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Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 27th, 6:00 PM

Assessment of the health risks from air pollution in Peja municipality

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Air pollution is a global threat that contributes to mortality and morbidity. However, globally 7.3 billion people, or 94 percent of the world population, face air pollution levels considered unsafe by the WHO. Objectives: To present pattern of ambient air pollution and determine its possible association with short term health effects indicators in Peja municipality. Methods: The air pollutants concentrations from annual reports Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency recorded in air quality station in Peja municipality and the number of emergency visits, number of general hospital admissions, data according to diseases coded according to ICD-10, number of premature deaths from Peja hospital database are collected, to asses potential association of these determinants. Results: The comparison of health effects of main air pollutants, PM10 and PM2.5 particles, showed no positive correlation in absolute numbers between their concentration and the number of emergency visits, hospital admissions, asthma and heart attack. Nevertheless, a correlation between elevated PM10 and PM2.5 and increased hospital admissions, emergency visits of COPD- COPD exacerbations are observed. The correlation was noted during winter months when fossil waste burning is coupled with deteriorated atmospheric conditions. Conclusion: Although the pollution values during whole year are not critical, the interventions should be oriented towards preventive interventions. Policies targeting air pollution reduction should be strongly enforced to reduce its health effects.