Effects of Temperature and Air Pollution on Emergency Ambulance Dispatches: A Time Series Analysis in a Medium-Sized City in Germany

Abstract Management of adverse health-related effects from heat waves requires comprehensive and accessible sources information. This paper examines the temperature air pollution on human health identifies areas with increased occurrence emergency ambulance dispatches in city Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany, discusses applicability for care interventions urban planning. An overdispersed Poisson generalized additive model was used to examine predict association potential lag exposure between temperature, pollution, three types during study period 2011 2019. A linear estimate heat-wave effects. line density function identify dispatches. Significant were detected nontraumatic cardiovascular diseases after exceeding a threshold temperature. The exposure–response relationships showed an relative risk up two days diseases. Results indicate significant presence 17% (95% confidence interval: 5.9%–30.0%) day non-heat-wave day. Dispatches occur more often high population building density, especially summer. analyses identified hotspots heat-related provides baseline information future planning public management based data commonly available even small cities. Significance Statement purpose this is demonstrate how authorities medium- small-sized cities can assess impacts stress or using free software incorporate outcomes their spatial management. important as ongoing climate change all communities adapt reduce pollution. Our results show that extreme leads medium-sized Germany provide overview where focus mitigate