Relationship between common air pollutants with risk of cardio-respiratory hospitalization in urbanized areas in Kelantan

Environmental Sustainable Science Program, Department of Natural Resources and Sustainability, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: hajar.y@umk.edu.my

Abstract

A high concentration of air pollution can lead to health problems which are the cardiovascular and respiratory systems (WHO, 2014). A study has been conducted to know the relationship between five criteria air pollutants with hospitalization related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in two cities in Kelantan. The secondary data from 2000 until 2015 analyzed in the study were obtained from DOE and MOH for the air pollutants concentration and hospitalization, respectively. This study shows that the mean concentration of all pollutants in the study area is below the RMAAQS. Significant Relative Risk (RR) values were found for cardiovascular hospitalization associated with SO² (RR = 1.537, 95% CI = 2.970, 7.956), NO² (RR = 1.212, 95% CI = 1.156, 1.272), and O³ (RR = 4.873, 95% CI = 2.768, 8.578). In contrast, significant RR for respiratory hospitalization was found to be associated with SO² (RR = 1.952, 95% CI = 1.013, 3.762), NO² (RR = 2.021, 95% CI = 6.170, 6.620), O³ (RR = 1.128, 95% CI = 4.427, 2.874), and PM¹⁰ (RR = 1.008, 95% CI = 1.007, 1.008). The highest value of Relative Risk is O³ and NO² for hospitalization related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, respectively. In conclusion, the value of RR associated with air pollutants proves that air pollutants are associated with cardiovascular and respiratory-related hospitalization risk.