Long-Term Exposure to Low-Level Ambient Air Pollution and Mortality among 0.3 Million Chinese Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE

Evidence that long-term exposure to ambient air pollution increases mortality among older adults, particularly those residing in low-level air pollution locations, remains scarce. This study investigated the potential links between long-term low-level air pollution exposure and mortality among Chinese older adults.

METHODS

A population-based study with 317,464 individuals aged ≥ 65 years was conducted in Shenzhen, China during 2018 and 2020. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and all-cause mortality, as the primary outcome, as well as non-accidental, cancer and cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

Significant associations of PM 1, PM 2.5, PM 10, SO 2, CO, and O 3 exposures with a higher risk of all-cause mortality were found. Adjusted odds ratio ( OR) for each 1 µg/m 3 increment was 1.49 [95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.46, 1.53] for PM 1, 1.30 (1.27, 1.32) for PM 2.5, 1.05 (1.04, 1.06) for PM 10, 5.84 (5.39, 6.32) for SO 2, 1.04 (1.04, 1.05) for CO, and 1.02 (1.00, 1.03) for O 3, respectively. Long-term PM 1, PM 2.5, PM 10, SO 2, and CO exposures also elevated the risks of non-accidental, cancer and cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSION

Long-term low-level air pollution exposure was associated with an increased mortality risk among Chinese older adults.