Ambient PM2.5 Chemical Composition and Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations in China

Little is known about the impacts of specific chemical components on cardiovascular hospitalizations. We examined the relationships of PM2.5 chemical composition and daily hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease in 184 Chinese cities. Acute PM2.5 chemical composition exposures were linked to higher cardiovascular disease hospitalizations on the same day and the percentage change of cardiovascular admission was the highest at 1.76% (95% CI, 1.36–2.16%) per interquartile range increase in BC, followed by 1.07% (0.72–1.43%) for SO42–, 1.04% (0.63–1.46%) for NH4+, 0.99% (0.55–1.43%) for NO3–, 0.83% (0.50–1.17%) for OM, and 0.80% (0.34%–1.26%) for Cl–. Similar findings were observed for all cause-specific major cardiovascular diseases, except for heart rhythm disturbances. Short-term exposures to PM2.5 chemical composition were related to higher admissions and showed diverse impacts on major cardiovascular diseases.