RETRACTED: Submicrometer particles and their effects on the association between air temperature and mortality in Brisbane, Australia

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors following an inquiry from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The inquiry found and it was confirmed by the authors that:The article contained misleading and inaccurate information. Specifically, there was:
• incorrect analysis of the data, partly as a consequence of a failure of communication regarding the nature of the data set and how it was collected.
• incorrect and misleading description of how and when the data set was collected.
• failure to correctly attribute the source of the data.
• an incorrect description of the statistical methods and data selection.
• incorrect citation of papers in the description of the data collection.Data Access:
• Dr Wang had full access to the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH) database but did not have permission to copy or use any data which she did not collect.
• Dr Wang obtained a collection of raw data on ‘Submicrometer particles for the period of 1995 – 2000’ (the dataset) without permission from the ILAQH, QUT. The dataset constitutes the main focus of the paper.Accuracy of Publication:
• The authors of the paper make misleading statements at sections 2.1 (Data Collection) and 2.2 (Data Analysis). Specifically the authors:○imply that one or more of them participated in the collection of the dataset;○gave a false impression that the analysis was based on a far greater body than actually existed; and○conducted an analysis that was based on incorrect assumptions about the data.
• Conclusions of the paper are flawed.Incorrect citation and author Acknowledgement:
• The final sentence in Section 4 (Discussion) of the Paper makes two incorrect citations to Crouse et al (2009, 2010).
• The Paper incorrectly cites two previously published ILAQH papers by Wang et al. (2011) and Morawska et a.l 2001. Specifically:○The cited papers do not refer to the dataset used by the authors.
• The Paper failed to cite previous papers by Morawska et al. (1998, 1999) and Mejia et al. (2007) that presented an analysis of the dataset used by the authors.There was a failure by the authors to acknowledge ILAQH and Prof Morawska's contribution to the paper.