Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in Three U.S. Counties

Suresh H. Moolgavkar
2000 Environmental Health Perspectives  
I thank E.G. Luebeck for computational support. Articles I used generalized additive models to analyze the time-series of daily total nonaccidental and cause-specific (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) deaths over the period 1987-1995 in three major U.S. metropolitan areas: Cook County, Los Angeles County, and Maricopa County. In all three counties I had monitoring information on particulate matter ≤ 10 µm (PM 10 ), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide,
more » ... gen dioxide, and ozone. In Los Angeles, monitoring information on particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) was available as well. I present the results of both single and multi-pollutant analyses. Air pollution was associated with each of the mortality end points. With respect to the individual components of the pollution mix, the results indicate considerable heterogeneity of air pollution effects in the different geographic locations. In general, the gases, particularly CO, but not ozone, were much more strongly associated with mortality than was particulate matter. This association was particularly striking in Los Angeles County.
doi:10.2307/3434732 fatcat:4xqqxlx5kzazroi4b564osn534