Air Pollution, Climate and Health Outcomes: a Correlation Analysis in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (2015–2023)

Abstract Book of the 6th World Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming

Year: 2025

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Air Pollution, Climate and Health Outcomes: a Correlation Analysis in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (2015–2023)

Danielle Satie Kassada, Guilherme Coelho, Igor De Lima Peixoto Rocha, Larissa Marques Suardi

ABSTRACT:

Air pollution and climate factors are widely recognised as global determinants of health risks. This study aimed to analyse the correlation between air pollutants, climate variables, and health outcomes in the Brazilian municipality of Campinas, São Paulo between 2015 and 2023. This ecological observational study was based on secondary data from official environmental and health monitoring systems. The pollutants analysed included fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and total particulate matter (PM₁₀), as well as carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃) and nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂ and NOx). These pollutants were aggregated into monthly averages according to records from environmental monitoring stations in the region. The climatic variables considered were average temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation. Health outcomes included hospitalisations and deaths, categorised according to chapters of the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), which groups health conditions into 22 categories. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used for statistical analysis to identify monotonic associations between environmental parameters and health outcomes. The results revealed moderate to strong positive correlations between nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂ and NOx) and hospitalisations due to metabolic diseases, neoplasms, and congenital malformations. Particulate pollutants (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) also exhibited positive associations with metabolic diseases and congenital malformations. Carbon monoxide exhibited significant correlations with hospitalisations for metabolic diseases and neoplasms. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between temperature and solar radiation and hospitalisations for metabolic diseases and congenital malformations, suggesting a higher incidence of these diseases in colder periods or in areas with less sunshine. Ozone, however, showed a negative correlation with infectious diseases. These findings emphasise the importance of environmental surveillance and integrating public health and environmental policies.

Keywords: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Status