HIGH TEMPERATURES AND AIR POLLUTION: INVESTIGATING INTERACTIVE EFFECTS ON CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY

Background and Aims: Numerous studies have shown associations between human health and air pollution or air temperature. Whether both exposures have synergistic effects on health outcomes has so far only received limited attention. The aim of this study was to examine potential interactive effects of high air temperature and air pollution on cardiovascular mortality in Munich and Augsburg, Germany, as well as in Beijing, China. Methods: We used data from Munich as well as Augsburg, Germany, for the period 1990 to 2006 (May to September), including daily cardiovascular death counts, meteorological variables, and air pollution concentrations (24-h averages of particulate matter with a diameter < 10µm (PM10) and daily maximum 8-h ozone (O3)). Additionally, we obtained cardiovascular death counts, meteorological variables, and PM10 concentrations from the urban area of Beijing, China, for the period 2004 to 2005. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression models adjusting for long-term trend, calendar effect...