Cumulative effect of PM2.5 components is larger than the effect of PM2.5 mass on child health in India

Abstract

While studies on ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure effect on child health are available, the differential effects, if any, of exposure to PM_2.5 species are unexplored in lower and middle-income countries. Using multiple logistic regression, we showed that for every 10 μg m^-3 increase in PM_2.5 exposure, anaemia, acute respiratory infection, and low birth weight prevalence increase by 10% (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 9-11), 11% (8-13), and 5% (4-6), respectively, among children in India. NO₃^-, elemental carbon, and NH₄⁺ were more associated with the three health outcomes than other PM_2.5 species. We found that the total PM_2.5 mass as a surrogate marker for air pollution exposure could substantially underestimate the true composite impact of different components of PM_2.5. Our findings provide key indigenous evidence to prioritize control strategies for reducing exposure to more toxic species for greater child health benefits in India.