Respiratory disease associated with community air pollution and a steel mill, Utah Valley

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Am. J. Public Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.79.5.623· OSTI ID:5985883

Pope, III, C A

This study assessed the association between hospital admissions and fine particulate pollution (PM10) in Utah Valley during the period April 1985-February 1988. This time period included the closure and reopening of the local steel mill, the primary source of PM10. An association between elevated PM10 levels and hospital admissions for pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, and asthma was observed. During months when 24-hour PM10 levels exceeded 150 micrograms/m3, average admissions for children nearly tripled; in adults, the increase in admissions was 44 per cent. During months with mean PM10 levels greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/m3 average admissions for children and adults increased by 89 and 47 per cent, respectively. During the winter months when the steel mill was open, PM10 levels were nearly double the levels experienced during the winter months when the mill was closed. This occurred even though relatively stagnant air was experienced during the winter the mill was closed. Children's admissions were two to three times higher during the winters when the mill was open compared to when it was closed. Regression analysis also revealed that PM10 levels were strongly correlated with hospital admissions. They were more strongly correlated with children's admissions than with adult admissions and were more strongly correlated with admissions for bronchitis and asthma than with admissions for pneumonia and pleurisy.

• Research Organization: Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5985883
• Journal Information: Am. J. Public Health; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Public Health; (United States) Vol. 79:5; ISSN AJHEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550900 -- Pathology
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
AIR POLLUTION
ALLOYS
ANIMALS
DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STATISTICS
STEELS
USA
UTAH
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES