Asthma attributable to nitrogen dioxide in the population under 20 years of age in Mexico: a spatiotemporal analysis of incidence and emergency department visits, 2007–2019
Description
This dataset contains the processed data and analytical outputs used to estimate the burden of asthma attributable to long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) among individuals under 20 years of age in Mexico for the period 2007–2019. The dataset integrates multiple data sources, including satellite-derived NO₂ concentration estimates, population data, and epidemiological information from national health surveillance systems. NO₂ concentrations were derived from satellite products and spatially processed to generate annual mean values at a resolution of approximately 0.0083° (~1 km). These values were subsequently aggregated at the municipal level using population-weighted averages to better represent exposure in inhabited areas. Health data include state-level asthma incidence rates, asthma prevalence, and proportions of individuals with asthma who reported at least one emergency department visit during the previous year. These data were used to estimate expected cases and emergency department visits at the municipal level. Using these inputs, the dataset includes the following derived variables: - Estimated population under 20 years of age by municipality and year - Population-weighted annual NO₂ concentrations (µg/m³) - Estimated asthma incidence attributable to NO₂ exposure - Estimated emergency department visits attributable to NO₂ exposure - Attributable fractions based on concentration–response functions - Annual and cumulative incidence and emergency visit rates per 100,000 population - Classification of municipalities by type of urban system (metropolitan areas, municipal metropolises, conurbated zones, and other municipalities) Additionally, the dataset includes results from hypothetical NO₂ reduction scenarios for the year 2019, in which exposure levels were capped at the national 90th percentile and at the national population-weighted mean. These scenario outputs provide estimates of potentially avoidable asthma cases and emergency department visits. All data were processed and analyzed using geographic information systems and statistical software. The dataset is provided in tabular format (CSV), with each record representing a municipality-year observation. Due to data privacy and regulatory restrictions, individual-level health data are not included. All data are aggregated at the municipal or state level and are suitable for reproducibility and secondary analysis.
Files
Steps to reproduce
Data Processing and Reproducibility The analytical dataset integrates NO₂ pollution, population, and asthma data for individuals under 19 years of age at the municipal level in Mexico (2007–2019). A reproducible 10-step workflow for generating exposure and disease burden estimates is described. Main steps: NO₂ Acquisition: Annual NO₂ concentration estimates from NASA satellite products (~1 km resolution). Spatial Processing: GIS alignment with municipal boundaries and population; calculation at the block level. Weighted Exposure: Municipal NO₂ averages weighted by block population. Health Data: State rates of asthma incidence and prevalence (GBD), municipal emergency room visits (<20 years) from official sources; harmonized by year/state/municipality. Baseline municipal risk: Application of state rates to municipal populations under 20 years of age to estimate expected cases. Attributable fractions (AF): Calculation using log-linear concentration-response functions (published relative risks for incidence and emergency room visits). Attributable cases and visits: Multiplication of population under 20 years of age, state rates, and AF for annual estimates per municipality. Urban aggregation: Grouping into urban systems (metropolitan areas, municipal metropolises, conurbations, others); annual/cumulative totals and rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Counterfactual scenarios (2019): - NO₂ at the 90th national percentile. - NO₂ at the weighted national average. Recalculation of AF, cases, and visits; estimation of relative/absolute reductions vs. observed levels. Final results: Files with annual municipal exposure, attributable cases/visits, rates, urban classification, and 2019 scenarios. Reproducibility: Requires original data (NO₂ raster, municipal boundaries, population <20 years, state health data, response functions). Processing in GIS and statistical software; formulas in handwritten form. Repository includes processed data and documentation. This workflow ensures spatial alignment, population weighting, and robust attributable estimates for NO₂ impact analysis on childhood asthma.
Institutions
- Université Toulouse CapitoleOccitanie, Toulouse