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Associations between Weather, Air Quality and Moderate Extreme Cancer-Related Mortality Events in Augsburg, Southern Germany

Author

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  • Patrick Olschewski

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Irena Kaspar-Ott

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Stephanie Koller

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Gerhard Schenkirsch

    (Comprehensive Cancer Center, Augsburg University Medical Center, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Martin Trepel

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
    Comprehensive Cancer Center, Augsburg University Medical Center, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Department of Internal Medicine II, Augsburg University Medical Center, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Elke Hertig

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

Abstract

While many authors have described the adverse health effects of poor air quality and meteorological extremes, there remain inconsistencies on a regional scale as well as uncertainty about the single and joint effects of atmospheric predictors. In this context, we investigated the short-term impacts of weather and air quality on moderate extreme cancer-related mortality events for the urban area of Augsburg, Southern Germany, during the period 2000–2017. First, single effects were uncovered by applying a case-crossover routine. The overall impact was assessed by performing a Mann–Whitney U testing scheme. We then compared the results of this procedure to extreme noncancer-related mortality events. In a second step, we found periods with contemporaneous significant predictors and carried out an in-depth analysis of these joint-effect periods. We were interested in the atmospheric processes leading to the emergence of significant conditions. Hence, we applied the Principal Component Analysis to large-scale synoptic conditions during these periods. The results demonstrate a strong linkage between high-mortality events in cancer patients and significantly above-average levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) during the late winter through spring period. These were mainly linked to northerly to easterly weak airflow under stable, high-pressure conditions. Especially in winter and spring, this can result in low temperatures and a ground-level increase and the accumulation of air pollution from heating and traffic as well as eastern lateral advection of polluted air. Additionally, above-average temperatures were shown to occur on the days before mortality events from mid-summer through fall, which was also caused by high-pressure conditions with weak wind flow and intense solar radiation. Our approach can be used to analyse medical data with epidemiological as well as climatological methods while providing a more vivid representation of the underlying atmospheric processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Olschewski & Irena Kaspar-Ott & Stephanie Koller & Gerhard Schenkirsch & Martin Trepel & Elke Hertig, 2021. "Associations between Weather, Air Quality and Moderate Extreme Cancer-Related Mortality Events in Augsburg, Southern Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:11737-:d:674992
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hasan Sohail & Virpi Kollanus & Pekka Tiittanen & Alexandra Schneider & Timo Lanki, 2020. "Heat, Heatwaves and Cardiorespiratory Hospital Admissions in Helsinki, Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, October.
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    1. Nawapon Nakharutai & Patrinee Traisathit & Natthapat Thongsak & Titaporn Supasri & Pimwarat Srikummoon & Salinee Thumronglaohapun & Phonpat Hemwan & Imjai Chitapanarux, 2022. "Impact of Residential Concentration of PM2.5 Analyzed as Time-Varying Covariate on the Survival Rate of Lung Cancer Patients: A 15-Year Hospital-Based Study in Upper Northern Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.

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