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Title: Epidemiologic investigation to identify chronic health effects of ambient air pollutants in Southern California. Phase 2. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:620558

The Phase II cross-sectional study was conducted to provide early information on the possible chronic effects of air pollution in Southern California children and to determine, if effects are found, which pollutant (or pollutants) is responsible. Annual questionnaires were completed on these children which covered health history (including history of wheezing, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory conditions), residential history, housing characteristics (such as heating and air conditioning practices), and history of exposure to other possibly harmful agents, such as tobacco smoke (both active and passive smoking). In addition, the usual physical and outdoor/indoor activity of each subject was ascertained. The lung function of each subject was assessed annually to determine ventilatory capacity. School absenses were recorded to determine frequency and severity of respiratory illnesses. After the development and deployment of the instrumentation, monitoring for air pollutants was conducted for the twelve communities, the schools and a sample of the subject`s residences. Ozone, PM{sub 10}, PM{sub 2.5}, NO{sub 2}, and acid vapor concentrations were determined at the community level, and indoor ozone concentrations were measured at schools. A sample of homes was measured for indoor ozone, PM{sub 10}, PM{sub 2.5}, acid and formaldehyde. The information from the questionnaire on residential history allowed for the construction of an estimated life-time exposure level for the different pollutants based on existing data. The information collected at schools and homes allowed for adjustments for exposures based on whether the subjects were indoors or outdoors.

Research Organization:
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Preventive Medicine
OSTI ID:
620558
Report Number(s):
PB-98-140833/XAB; CNN: Contract ARB-A033-186; TRN: 81592041
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English