At the time of the heat wave and the ozone peaks in Europe, we would like to remind you that (over?) Pollution is indeed killing people, as recently published American studies prove.
Three studies published in the journal Epidemiology demonstrate an association between the ozone levels in the lower atmosphere and the mortality rate. Conducted independently by researchers from Yale, Harvard and New York Universities on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these three meta-analyzes, which synthesize the results of previous work, start from different data for arrive at the same conclusion.
The first is based on figures from 14 US cities, 13 Canadian and 21 European. The second uses information from the National Morbidity and Mortality Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) including 95 cited as well as a set of European studies. The third, more modest, refers to data from 7 US cities.
The two meta-analyzes led by Levy and Bell show that, when the ozone level rises from 10 parts per billion (ppb), the mortality rate (especially cardiovascular and respiratory) in the following days increases by 0,87% for one and 0,83% for the other.
The phenomenon, weak but real, is especially marked in summer but seems independent of the rate of particles in suspension.
These results, which would confirm those of European studies, underline the urgency of developing measures to reduce the exposure of the public to ambient ozone, especially during periods of extreme heat.
It should be noted, however, that the authors do not exclude bias in the data collected and therefore their conclusions.
According to NYT (New York Times) of the 21 / 06 / 05 (Environment: high ozone binding to increased death rates)
Source: Adit
To know more : The dead of pollution