Examined the association between short-term exposure to ambient suspended particulate matter and emergency ambulance dispatches for acute illness, a relatively new indicator for evaluating the health effects of air pollution.

Using ambulance dispatch data, the present study demonstrated an increased risk of dispatches for acute illness associated with short-term exposure to suspended particulate matter.

There was the significant effect modification in this association by the type of medical condition, with the effects being stronger for less severe medical conditions.