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Air pollution and the duration of acute respiratory symptoms

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)
 [1]
  1. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
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The possibility that air pollution exposure can extend the duration of respiratory symptoms was examined in a diary study of student nurses. This diary study has already shown associations between air pollution and incidence rates of respiratory symptoms. After individual risk factors and temperature were controlled for, photochemical oxidants were significantly associated with the duration of episodes of coughing, phlegm, and sore throat. Some heterogeneity of response to oxidants was seen; there was little effect on asthmatics, but the impact increased as family income increased. Plots of the mean duration of symptoms, by quintiles of oxidants, for which the other covariates were controlled, showed strong signs of a dose-response relationship for coughing and phlegm and moderate signs of a monotonic dose-response relationship for sore throat. The relationships continued for concentrations below the current ambient standard for ozone. Chest tightness or discomfort was significantly associated with sulfur dioxide, but the effect seemed mainly restricted to asthmatics. However, evidence for a dose-dependent increase was weak.

OSTI ID:
5212632
Journal Information:
Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 47:2; ISSN AEHLA; ISSN 0003-9896
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ASTHMA
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INCOME
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
PATIENTS
PERSONNEL
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SYMPTOMS