Acute effects of black carbon and PM2.5 on children asthma admissions: A time-series study in a Chinese city

Epidemiologic evidence for an association between black carbon (BC) and health outcomes is limited. We estimated associations and exposure–response relationships between childhood asthma admission and concentration of BC and PM_2.5 (particle less than 2.5 mm in aerodynamic diameter) in ambient air in Shanghai using a lag distributed model. The PM_2.5 and the BC were significantly associated with childhood asthma admissions in single-pollution model. However, the effects of BC on asthma attacks were slightly stronger than those of PM_2.5 after adjusting or not adjusting for NO₂ and SO₂. In conclusion, our study suggests combustion-associated particles are important in China. Black carbon should be considered as one of the air quality indicators in China.

J. Hua, Y. Yin, L. Peng, L. Du, F. Geng, & L. Zhu (2014) Acute effects of black carbon and PM_2.5 on children asthma admissions: A time-series study in a Chinese city, Science of The Total Environment 481:433-438.