Epidemiology of acute health effects: summary of time-series studies

Abstract

This chapter describes the many recent epidemiological studies relating acute effects, both deaths and morbidity, from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to air pollution variables, as a function of time. These are the `acute` effects soon after exposure. More recent studies in the US have found stronger correlations of death rates, with particulates rather than with sulfur pollution. Usually the PM{sub 10} fraction is discussed although the PM{sub 3.5} and even the PM{sub 2.5} fraction are now believed to be important. However, the acidity of the particulates, in particular the relationship to sulfuric acid has unfortunately not been a directly measured air pollution variable and has to be inferred indirectly. The epidemiological studies of acute exposure to air pollution provide substantial evidence that combustion-related air pollution may be a risk factor for pulmonary disease and can exacerbate existing cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and increase the number of persons in a population who become symptomatic, require medial attention, or die.