Abstract Description: This systematic literature review and meta-analysis investigates the health impacts of ambient air pollutants, specifically particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and ozone (O3), focusing on high-income nations including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Air pollution is a critical environmental threat contributing to premature deaths worldwide, particularly through cardiovascular, respiratory, and lung cancer morbidities. Despite the recognized hazards, comprehensive risk assessments in regions with unique environmental challenges like the UAE are limited.
Our review spanned studies published between 2008 and January 2023, identified from PubMed, Web of Science, and CAB abstracts, totaling 5,152 articles. Of these, 538 underwent full-text review, with 82 qualifying for inclusion in our meta-analysis. The analysis revealed a pooled relative risk (RR) of 1.130 (95% CI 1.028-1.243) for respiratory morbidity associated with each 10μg/m³ increase in short-term PM2.5 exposure. Long-term exposure of PM2.5 demonstrated an RR of 1.239 (95% CI 1.119-1.373) for respiratory diseases, with cardiovascular impacts also showing significant associations. For PM10, associations with respiratory disease morbidity were found for both long-term (RR 1.206, 95% CI 1.128-1.290) and short-term (RR 1.029, 95% CI 1.002-1.057) exposures. For O3, except for short-term respiratory morbidity and long-term respiratory mortality, no notable correlations were observed.
The findings underscore the substantial health risks posed by PM2.5 and PM10, necessitating targeted research and effective policy measures, especially in regions like the UAE where specific epidemiological studies are sparse. This research fills a critical gap by providing robust evidence to support the development of strategies aimed at improving air quality and safeguarding public health. Ultimately, the study contributes to the global understanding of air pollution's effects on health.
