Photochemical Air Pollution and Automobile Accidents in Los Angeles

Abstract

Several nonparametric statistical methods have been used to compare Los Angeles motor vehicular accident (MVA) frequencies for the months August to October, 1963 and 1965, with the levels of one component of smog, oxidant Statistically significant association is found to exist between these variables; more often than not, increasing oxidant levels are accompanied by an increase in the frequency of MVA. However, these findings do not overlook the possibility that, since there are other air pollution variables present at the same time as oxidant, the positive association between oxidant levels and MVA frequencies might be due to the positive association between one of the other variables and MVA as well as a positive correlation between this variable and oxidant. The nonparamefric methods used in the analysis, as well as alternative statistical procedures, are discussed In separate sections.