Estimation of hospital admission respiratory disease cases attributed to exposure to SO2 and NO2 in two different sectors of Egypt

Abstract

Air Q2.2.3 was used to predicted hospital admissions respiratory disease cases due to SO2 and NO2 exposure in two sectors of Egypt during December 2015 to November 2016. Levels were 19, 22 μg/m3 at Ain Sokhna sector and 92, 78 μg/m3 at Shoubra El-Khaima sector for SO2 and NO2, respectively. These levels were less than the Egyptian Permissible limits (125 µg/m³ in urban and 150 µg/m³ in industrial for SO2, 150 µg/m³ in urban and industrial for NO2). Results showed that relative risks were 1.0330 (1.0246-1.0414) and 1.0229 (1.0171-1.0287) at Ain Sokhna sector while they were 1.0261 (1.0195-1.0327) and 1.0226 (1.0169-1.0283) at Shoubra El-Khaima sector for SO2 and NO2, respectively. The highest cases of HARD were found in Shoubra El-Khaima sector; 311 cases at 120-129 μg/m3 of SO2 and 234 cases at 120-129 μg/m3 of NO2. While, in Ain Sokhna, HARD were 18 cases at 50-59 μg/m3 of SO2 and 15 cases at 60-69 μg/m3 of NO2. The excess cases found in Shoubra El-Khaima sector as compared to those in Ain Sokhna sector, may be attributed to the higher density of population and industries in Shoubra El-Khaima sector.