Slopeland hazard and respiratory health: The example of Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan

Slopeland hazard may not only induce short-term safety problems, but also long-term respiratory health problems due to slow vegetation recovery and particulate air pollution. Typhoon Morakot induced a serious landslide in southern Taiwan on August 7-9, 2009 and produced particulate air pollution (particulate matter less than 10 μm, PM10). Therefore, respiratory health may be affected by Typhoon Morakot's bare land. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether respiratory morbidity is related to Typhoon Morakot's bare land. A study was conducted to determine whether respiratory morbidity is related with Typhoon Morakot. District is geographical unit of analysis in this study. 368 districts were divided into three levels of bare area based on increased percentage of bare area after Typhoon Morakot: non-bare area (increased percentage equal to 0%), mild bare area (increased percentage less than 1%) and serious bare area (increased percentage greater than 1%). Morbidity data were derived from Taiwan National Health Insurance Statistics. The increased prevalence rate of chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD) and pneumonia between pre-typhoon (2008) and post-typhoon (2010 and 2014) were analyzed. The population was stratified into three groups: children (0-14 years), adult (15-64 years), and elderly (≧65 years). The results showed that pediatric pneumonia was strongly associated with Typhoon Morakot. Children were the most vulnerable population for pneumonia in serious bare areas after Typhoon Morakot.