Application of health effects ofair pollution studies

Air Pollution TeamCHAN, King-Pan EricCHAN, O-UCHAU, Yuen-Kwan PatsyCHI, Yuk-Sheung MarieHEDLEY, Anthony JLAI, Hak-KanTHACH, Quoc-ThuanWONG, Chit-Ming

Health Economics TeamCHAU, JuneCHENG, Wai-Ling AnnieMcGHEE, Sarah MWONG, Lai-Chin

Department of Community Medicineand School of Public HealthThe University of Hong Kong

CM Wong

The concentration-response curves for(A) respiratory and (B) cardiac admissions

Hong Kong London

Source: Wong et al. Environmental Health Perspectives 2002; 110:67-76.

Reducing exposure and the burden of disease:Use of the concentration-response curve

β is the excess risk per unit of pollutant concentration is an preventable fraction of exposure and

incidence of cardiorespiratory disease

Y

0x

x2 x1

!(x - x )1 2

log -

ris

k

$2 Billion6.8M doctor visits64000 bed-days1600 deaths

Poor

Avoidable events caused by pollution:Doctor visits, Hospital bed-days & Deaths

0

20

40

60

80

100

(microgram per cubic meter)Pollution

Hong Kong2004

Air quality

WHO Guideline

2006

Hong KongAverage

Hong KongObjectiveThe preventable fraction

6.8 million doctor visits

64,000 hospital days

1,600 deaths

$2 billion direct + $ 19billion indirect costs

An initiative to aid communicating to the publicabout benefits of better air quality

http://hedleyindex.sph.hku.hk

We need better translation of publichealth research into policy and practice

Problem

Science

Advocacy

Policy

Action

Benefit

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