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Further interpretation of the acute effect of nitrogen dioxide observed in Canadian time-series studies

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 10:31 authored by Brook, JR, Burnett, RT, Dann, TF, Cakmak, S, Goldberg, MS, Fan, X, Amanda WheelerAmanda Wheeler
In this paper, the pooled NO2 association withnonaccidental mortality is examined across 10 cities in Canada in single- and two-pollutant time-series models. The results reaffirm that NO2 has the strongest association withmortality , particularly in the warm season. Althoughattributing sucheffects to NO2 cannot be ruled out, it is plausible that NO2 is acting as an indicator for some other exposure affecting the population. This could include PM2.5, as has been suggested from some personal exposure data, but it could also be indicating a more specific type of PM2.5, sucha s traffic-related particles, given that in cities the main source of NO2 is motor vehicle exhaust. NO2 could also be acting as a surrogate for other pollutant(s) originating from motor vehicles or high-temperature combustion, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Another possibility is other oxidized nitrogen species (‘‘NOz’’) or photochemically produced pollutants that can co-vary with NO2, especially during urban stagnation events. Data to test these different possibilities across several Canadian cities are examined. The focus is on correlations in time or space between NO2 and other pollutants that are more strongly linked to vehicle emissions. The results support the hypothesis that NO2 is a better indicator than PM2.5 of a range of other toxic pollutants. This includes VOCs, aldehydes, NOz and particle-bound organics in motor vehicle exhaust. Thus, overall, the strong effect of NO2 in Canadian cities could be a result of it being the best indicator, among the pollutants monitored, of fresh combustion (likely motor vehicles) as well as photochemically processed urban air.

History

Publication title

Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology

Volume

17

Pagination

S36-S44

ISSN

1559-0631

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

Copyright 2007 Nature Publishing Group

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified

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