Fine Particles Linked to Daily Mortality in California
This multi-city study investigated associations between PM2.5 and mortality in nine heavily populated California counties taking advantage of new PM2.5 monitoring data collected from 1999 through 2002.
Statistical methods were used to control for effects of season, temperature, and humidity. The nine counties were: Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, and Santa Clara. Positive associations were observed with all-cause mortality, as well as mortality from respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and deaths in persons over age 65. “Overall, this large, multi-county analysis provides evidence of significant associations of fine particles with daily mortality among nearly two-thirds of California’s population,” conclude the authors.
Ostro B, Broadwin R, Green S, Feng W-Y, Lipsett M. Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Mortality in Nine California Counties: Results from CALFINE. Environ Health Perspec 2006; 114:29-33.
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