Particulate air pollution and daily mortality in Detroit

Journal Article · Sat Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80009-X· OSTI ID:5701692

Schwartz, J ^[1]

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1. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)

Particulate air pollution has been associated with increased mortality during episodes of high pollution concentrations. The relationship at lower concentrations has been more controversial, as has the relative role of particles and sulfur dioxide. Replication has been difficult because suspended particle concentrations are usually measured only every sixth day in the U.S. This study used concurrent measurements of total suspended particulates (TSP) and airport visibility from every sixth day sampling for 10 years to fit a predictive model for TSP. Predicted daily TSP concentrations were then correlated with daily mortality counts in Poisson regression models controlling for season, weather, time trends, overdispersion, and serial correlation. A significant correlation (P less than 0.0001) was found between predicted TSP and daily mortality. This correlation was independent of sulfur dioxide, but not vice versa. The magnitude of the effect was very similar to results recently reported from Steubenville, Ohio (using actual TSP measurements), with each 100 micrograms/m3 increase in TSP resulting in a 6% increase in mortality. Graphical analysis indicated a dose-response relationship with no evidence of a threshold down to concentrations below half of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter.

• OSTI ID: 5701692
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (United States) Vol. 56:2; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ANIMALS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION V
HUMIDITY
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MICHIGAN
MONITORING
MORTALITY
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STATISTICS
TOXICITY
URBAN AREAS
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WEATHER