Particulate air pollution as a predictor of mortality in a prospective study of U.S. adults

Pope, CA III; Thun, MJ; Namboodiri, MM; Dockery, DW; Evans, JS; Speizer, FE; Heath, CW, Jr

HERO ID

45159

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1995

Language

English

PMID

7881654

HERO ID 45159
In Press No
Year 1995
Title Particulate air pollution as a predictor of mortality in a prospective study of U.S. adults
Authors Pope, CA III; Thun, MJ; Namboodiri, MM; Dockery, DW; Evans, JS; Speizer, FE; Heath, CW, Jr
Journal American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume 151
Issue 3 Pt. 1
Page Numbers 669-674
Abstract Time-series, cross-sectional, and prospective cohort studies have observed associations between mortality and particulate air pollution but have been limited by ecologic design or small number of subjects or study areas. The present study evaluates effects of particulate air pollution on mortality using data from a large cohort drawn from many study areas. We linked ambient air pollution data from 151 U.S. metropolitan areas in 1980 with individual risk factor on 552,138 adults who resided in these areas when enrolled in a prospective study in 1982. Deaths were ascertained through December, 1989. Exposure to sulfate and fine particulate air pollution, which is primarily from fossil fuel combustion, was estimated from national data bases. The relationships of air pollution to all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality was examined using multivariate analysis which controlled for smoking, education, and other risk factors. Although small compared with cigarette smoking, an association between mortality and particulate air pollution was observed. Adjusted relative risk ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of all-cause mortality for the most polluted areas compared with the least polluted equaled 1.15 (1.09 to 1.22) and 1.17 (1.09 to 1.26) when using sulfate and fine particulate measures respectively. Particulate air pollution was associated with cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality but not with mortality due to other causes. Increased mortality is associated with sulfate and fine particulate air pollution at levels commonly found in U.S. cities. The increase in risk is not attributable to tobacco smoking, although other unmeasured correlates of pollution cannot be excluded with certainty.
Doi 10.1164/ajrccm/151.3_Pt_1.669
Pmid 7881654
Wosid WOS:A1995QL39100016
Url http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm/151.3_Pt_1.669#readcube-epdf
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments ECRIB. 1995b in 671,12.Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 151: 669-674.
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Air Pollutants/adverse effects; Air Pollution/adverse effects; Cause of Death; Cohort Studies; Heart Diseases/mortality; Lung Diseases/mortality; Lung Neoplasms/mortality; Middle Aged; Mortality; Odds Ratio; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Smoking/mortality; United States/epidemiology
Is Qa No
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