Effects of air pollution caused by sugarcane burning in Western São Paulo on the cardiovascular system

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE  To evaluate the effects of acute exposure to air pollutants (NO₂ and PM₁₀) on hospitalization of adults and older people with cardiovascular diseases in Western São Paulo.

METHODS  Daily cardiovascular-related hospitalization data (CID10 – I00 to I99) were acquired by the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) from January 2009 to December 2012. Daily levels of NO₂ and PM₁₀ and weather data were obtained from Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB – São Paulo State Environmental Agency). To estimate the effects of air pollutants exposure on hospital admissions, generalized linear Poisson regression models were used.

RESULTS  During the study period, 6,363 hospitalizations were analysed. On the day of NO₂ exposure, an increase of 1.12% (95%CI 0.05–2.20) was observed in the interquartile range along with an increase in hospital admissions. For PM₁₀, a pattern of similar effect was observed; however, results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS  Even though with values within established limits, NO₂ is an important short-term risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity.

Nitrogen Dioxide, adverse effects; Air Pollution, adverse effects; Agricultural Cultivation; Fires; Cardiovascular Diseases