Objective To estimate the health effects of PM2.5 pollution on elementary school students' absenteeism caused by respiratory symptoms and diseases in Pudong New Area, Shanghai.
Methods Data of absenteeism caused by respiratory symptoms and diseases, air pollutants, and meteorological factors from September 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 in Pudong New Area of Shanghai were collected. Generalized additive model was used to quantitatively estimate the effects of PM2.5 pollution on students' absenteeism caused by respiratory symptoms and diseases, after controlling time trends, day-of-the-week effect, and meteorological factors.
Results The relative risk (RR) of elementary school students' absenteeism caused by respiratory symptoms and diseases was 1.021 (95%CI:1.009-1.033) for a 10μg/m3 increase of PM2.5, and the RRs of absenteeism for the 1st and 2nd grade students were 1.024 (95%CI:1.009-1.039) and 1.026 (95%CI:1.011-1.041), respectively. PM2.5 concentrations of current dayRRs (95%CIs) were 1.018 (1.003-1.032) and 1.021 (1.006-1.035), respectively and previous one day both had effects on the 3rd and 4th grade students (P < 0.05), but not on the 5th grade students (P > 0.05). The current-day PM2.5 concentrations and 2-day and 3-day moving averages of PM2.5 concentrations had effects on both male and female elementary school students (P < 0.01), and the RRs (95%CIs) of the current-day PM2.5 were 1.021 (1.008-1.033) and 1.022 (1.009-1.034) respectively.
Conclusion PM2.5 pollution could enhance elementary school students' absenteeism caused by respiratory symptoms and diseases.
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