Bertazzon, StefaniaLiu, Xiaoxiao2018-01-192018-01-192018-01-02Liu, X. (2018). NO2 Exposure and Myocardial Infarction Hospitalizations in Calgary, Canada (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.http://hdl.handle.net/1880/106286Air pollution is a leading public health concern. This research investigated the health effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on myocardial infarction (MI) in Calgary, Canada. Seasonal trend decomposition and hot spot analysis were applied exploring the spatial and seasonal pattern of MI. Both males and females followed a seasonal pattern with MI peaks in winter and summer. MI exhibited spatial clustering over communities with a larger proportion of older people, lower socioeconomic status, and proximity to industrial areas. A space-time model integrating harmonic regression and land use regression model was applied to estimate air pollution at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. providing accurate air pollution exposure for health risk studies. The varying association between MI and NO2 was examined with spatial autoregressive model (SAR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR), which accounts for spatial autocorrelation and spatial non-stationarity in MI. Result indicated that NO2 had a positive significant association with MI hospitalizations. However, the size and significance declined when age and gender were accounted for. By identifying potential factors in the hot spots, new evidence may be found to aid understanding of MI etiology. The advantage of this research is the space-time air pollution estimates at DA level, which enables reliable risk assessment at fine spatial scale. Further research shall be done with approach of multilevel model or hierarchic model to account for both individual and contextual factors. The research provides important information for health promotion. By raising the awareness regarding the spatial variation of air pollution, people may be able to further protect themselves from areas with relatively higher air pollution concentrations, especially for those vulnerable population such as elderly and people with asthma. It is helpful for policy makers and health researchers in targeting efforts and resources to areas in most needs. Overall, the air quality in Calgary is good, under the World Health Organization air pollution guidelines. Air pollution research in a cleaner area such as Calgary shows further indications about health impacts of air pollution at an acceptable level, which may shed new light regarding threshold research and further improvement of the existed air pollution guidelines.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Air pollutionMyocardial InfarctionSpace-timeSpatial AnalysisEducation--HealthGeographydoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/5367