Long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and population health: evidence from linked census data
利用北爱尔兰普查数据与2002-2010年1x1公里网格PM2.5浓度关联，研究长期暴露对自评健康、残疾及11项具体健康指标的影响，发现与多种健康问题稳健相关。
Particulate matter suspended in the air that is comprised of microscopic particles with a diameter of 2.5μm or less (PM2.5) is among the most impactful pollutants globally. Extensive evidence shows exposure to ambient PM2.5 is associated with a wide range of poor health outcomes. But few studies examine genuinely long-run pollution exposures in nationally representative data. This study exploits Census data for Northern Ireland, linked to average PM2.5 concentrations at the 1x1km grid-square level during the period 2002-2010. We combine outcome measures in 2011 with data on complete residential histories. Before adjusting for other covariates, we show strong relationships between PM2.5 exposure, self-rated general health, disability, and all available (eleven) domain-specific health measures in the data. Associations with poor general health, chronic illness, breathing difficulties, mobility difficulties, and deafness are robust to extensive conditioning and to further analysis designed to examine sensitivity to unobserved confounders.