Authors: Natalija KRANJEC, An GALIČIČ, Ivan ERŽEN, Andreja KUKEC
Corresponding author: Andreja Kukec
Type of paper: Original scientific article
Issue: Volume 10 | number 1 – 2016
Abstract: Ultrafine particles are outdoor air pollutants, the exposure to which is associated with morbidity and mortality for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to assess the temporal variability of ultrafine particle number concentrations in outdoor air and daily counts of deaths from respiratory diseases. Epidemiological ecological temporal variability study lasted 731 days. The observed population included residents of the Municipality of Ljubljana, who died of respiratory diseases in the observed period. Descriptive statistics was implemented. The highest daily counts of deaths from respiratory diseases in 2012 were in the periods February-April, May-June, and October. The next periods with the highest daily counts of deaths from respiratory diseases repeated again in the periods December 2012-April 2013, May-July 2013, and October 2013. These periods coincide with the periods of increased levels of ultrafine particle number concentrations. We concluded that there was a temporal variability association between the periods with higher daily counts of deaths from respiratory diseases and heightened levels, of ultrafine particle number concentrations. Research of the ultrafine particles’ effect in outdoor air on public health is a new scientific field in public health, which because of its complexity needs an interdisciplinary approach.
