Impact of Saharan dust particles on hospital admissions in Madrid (Spain)

Abstract

Saharan dust intrusions make a major contribution to levels of particulate matter (PM) present in the atmosphere of large cities. We analysed the impact of different PM fractions during periods with and without Saharan dust intrusions, using time-series analysis with Poisson regression models, based on: concentrations of coarse PM (PM₁₀ and PM_10-2.5) and fine PM (PM_2.5); and daily all-, circulatory- and respiratory-cause hospital admissions. While periods without Saharan dust intrusions were marked by a statistically significant association between daily mean PM_2.5 concentrations and all- and circulatory-cause hospital admissions, periods with such intrusions saw a significant increase in respiratory-cause admissions associated with fractions corresponding to PM₁₀ and PM_10-2.5.

Keywords:

• air pollutant concentrations
• epidemiology
• hospitalizations
• pollution