Application of DALYs in measuring health effect of ambient air pollution: a case study in Shanghai, China.

Author: Yun-Hui ZHANG ¹ ; Chang-Hong CHEN ; Guo-Hai CHEN ; Gui-Xiang SONG ; Bing-Heng CHEN ; Qing-Yan FU ; Hai-Dong KAN
Author Information

1. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: Air Pollution; China; epidemiology; Environmental Exposure; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Morbidity; Urban Health
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2006;19(4):268-272
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ambient air pollution on human health and the subsequent disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in Shanghai.
METHODSWe used epidemiology-based exposure-response functions to calculate the attributable number of cases due to air pollution in Shanghai in 2000, and then we estimated the corresponding DALYs lost in Shanghai based on unit DALYs values of the health consequences.
RESULTSAmbient air pollution caused 103,064 DALYs lost in Shanghai in 2000. Among all the health endpoints, premature deaths and chronic bronchitis predominated in the value of total DALYs lost.
CONCLUSIONThe air pollution levels have an adverse effect on the general population health and strengthen the rationale for limiting the levels of air pollution in outdoor air in Shanghai.