Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to investigate the reported association between air pollution and cause specific mortality in the city of Athens. DESIGN--Cause specific mortality was contrasted between 199 d with high values of air pollution and 2*199 comparison days with low pollution, matched in a 1:2 ratio on the basis of various confounding factors. Statistical analysis was done, taking matching into account, using analysis of variance for randomised blocks. SETTING--The study was confined to the city of Athens, using data obtained between 1975 and 1982. PARTICIPANTS--Cause of death was assessed in all 25 138 persons dying in the 3*199 d studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Causes of death were evaluated blindly by two medically qualified investigators on the basis of information in the death certificates. Mortality was generally higher during the high pollution days but the difference was more pronounced and more significant for respiratory conditions, even though the number of deaths in this category was smaller than the corresponding numbers in the other two categories examined (cardiac and "other" deaths). CONCLUSION--The results show that the short term association between air pollution and overall mortality in Athens is likely to be causal, since it is particularly evident with respect to respiratory conditions, for which a biological air pollution link is more plausible.
Full text
PDF



Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bates D. V., Sizto R. Relationship between air pollutant levels and hospital admissions in Southern Ontario. Can J Public Health. 1983 Mar-Apr;74(2):117–122. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Buechley R. W., Riggan W. B., Hasselblad V., VanBruggen J. B. SO2 levels and perturbations in mortality. A study in the New York-New Jersey metropolis. Arch Environ Health. 1973 Sep;27(3):134–137. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1973.10666341. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carnow B. W., Lepper M. H., Shekelle R. B., Stamler J. Chicago air pollution study. SO2 levels and acute illness in patients with chronic bronchopulmonary disease. Arch Environ Health. 1969 May;18(5):768–776. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1969.10665485. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GREENBURG L., FIELD F., REED J. I., ERHARDT C. L. Air pollution and morbidity in New York City. JAMA. 1962 Oct 13;182:161–164. doi: 10.1001/jama.1962.03050410057012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Glasser M., Greenburg L., Field F. Mortality and morbidity during a period of high levels of air pollution. New York, Nov. 23 to 25, 1966. Arch Environ Health. 1967 Dec;15(6):684–694. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1967.10664987. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greenburg L., Field F., Erhardt C. L., Glasser M., Reed J. I. Air pollution, influenza, and mortality in New York City; January-February 1963. Arch Environ Health. 1967 Oct;15(4):430–438. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1967.10664944. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hatzakis A., Katsouyanni K., Kalandidi A., Day N., Trichopoulos D. Short-term effects of air pollution on mortality in Athens. Int J Epidemiol. 1986 Mar;15(1):73–81. doi: 10.1093/ije/15.1.73. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Katsouyanni K., Trichopoulos D., Zavitsanos X., Touloumi G. The 1987 Athens heatwave. Lancet. 1988 Sep 3;2(8610):573–573. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)92699-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kevany J., Rooney M., Kennedy J. Health effects of air pollution in Dublin. Ir J Med Sci. 1975 Mar;144(3):102–115. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Korn E. L., Whittemore A. S. Methods for analyzing panel studies of acute health effects of air pollution. Biometrics. 1979 Dec;35(4):795–802. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LOGAN W. P. D. Mortality in the London fog incident, 1952. Lancet. 1953 Feb 14;1(6755):336–338. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(53)91012-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lawther P. J., Waller R. E., Henderson M. Air pollution and exacerbations of bronchitis. Thorax. 1970 Sep;25(5):525–539. doi: 10.1136/thx.25.5.525. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Levy D., Gent M., Newhouse M. T. Relationship between acute respiratory illness and air pollution levels in an industrial city. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Aug;116(2):167–173. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.116.2.167. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MARTIN A. E., BRADLEY W. H. Mortality, fog and atmospheric pollution: an investigation during the winter of 1958-59. Mon Bull Minist Health Public Health Lab Serv. 1960 May;19:56–72. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MARTIN A. E. MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY STATISTICS AND AIR POLLUTION. Proc R Soc Med. 1964 Oct;57:SUPPL–SUPPL:975. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mazumdar S., Schimmel H., Higgins I. T. Relation of daily mortality to air pollution: an analysis of 14 London winters, 1958/59-1971/72. Arch Environ Health. 1982 Jul-Aug;37(4):213–220. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1982.10667567. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mazumdar S., Sussman N. Relationships of air pollution to health: results from the Pittsburgh study. Arch Environ Health. 1983 Jan-Feb;38(1):17–24. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1983.10543974. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ostro B. A search for a threshold in the relationship of air pollution to mortality: a reanalysis of data on London winters. Environ Health Perspect. 1984 Dec;58:397–399. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8458397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schimmel H., Greenburg L. A study of the relation of pollution to mortality New York City, 1963-1968. J Air Pollut Control Assoc. 1972 Aug;22(8):607–616. doi: 10.1080/00022470.1972.10469688. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schimmel H., Murawski T. J. Proceedings: The relation of air pollution to mortality. J Occup Med. 1976 May;18(5):316–333. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197605000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schwartz J., Hasselblad V., Pitcher H. Air pollution and morbidity: a further analysis of the Los Angeles student nurses data. JAPCA. 1988 Feb;38(2):158–162. doi: 10.1080/08940630.1988.10466364. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sterling T. D., Pollack S. V., Weinkam J. Measuring the effect of air pollution on urban morbidity. Arch Environ Health. 1969 Apr;18(4):485–494. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1969.10665442. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Trichopoulos D., Hatzakis A., Wynder E., Katsouyanni K., Kalandidi A. Time trends of tobacco smoking, air pollution, and lung cancer in Athens. Environ Res. 1987 Dec;44(2):169–178. doi: 10.1016/s0013-9351(87)80225-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ware J. H., Thibodeau L. A., Speizer F. E., Colome S., Ferris B. G., Jr Assessment of the health effects of atmospheric sulfur oxides and particulate matter: evidence from observational studies. Environ Health Perspect. 1981 Oct;41:255–276. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8141255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ZEIDBERG L. D., PRINDLE R. A., LANDAU E. The Nashville air pollution study. I. Sulfur dioxide and bronchial asthma. A preliminary report. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1961 Oct;84:489–503. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1961.84.4.489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]