Author(s)

CVITKOVIĆ ANTE, IVIĆ-HOFMAN IGOR, BARIŠIN ANDREJA, CAPAK KRUNOSLAV, VIDIĆ SONJA, VAĐIĆ VEDRAN, ĆOSIĆ VESNA, MIŠKIĆ BLAŽENKA, VALJETIĆ MARIJANA

Abstract

Air pollution is a big public health problem. Short term and long-term exposure to air pollutants have different health effects. The purpose of this research is to determine whether PM₁₀, PM_2.5, H₂S and meteorological parameters have impact on frequency of urgent interventions in ERs (Institute of Emergency Medicine of Brod-Posavina County and Integrated Emergency Hospital Admission) in 2016 in the area of Slavonski Brod. Data were collected from four sources: Institute of Emergency Medicine of Brod-Posavina County, Integrated Emergency Hospital Admission, Meteorological and Hydrological Service data and Croatian Agency for Environment and Nature. During 2016, 56349 interventions in ERs were recorded. Weak but statistically significant positive correlation was established between PM₁₀ (correlation coefficient 0.103; p 0.043) and PM_2.5 (correlation coefficient 0.106; p 0.043) with the number of interventions in ERs. The correlation of mean relative humidity was statistically significant but negative (correlation coefficient -0.109; p 0.038). Connection between minimum and maximum temperature, H₂S and mean pressure values was not established. These results point to the importance of reducing air pollution with PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in Slavonski Brod.

Keywords

particulate matter, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, pollutants, hydrogen sulphide