The ozone pollution increases mortality in the short term, a U.S. study confirms

An American study showed a significant association between short-term changes in ambient ozone and human mortality. Numerous studies have been conducted on the link between ozone pollution and mortality, but the results were inconclusive.
Dr. Michelle L. Bell of Yale University in New Haven (Connecticut) and his colleagues studied the impact of short-term exposure to ambient ozone on mortality, analyzing databases 95 U.S. urban communities between 1987 and 2000.

They found an increase of 10 parts per billion (ppb) of ozone levels in the previous week was associated with a 0.52% increase in daily mortality, and more particularly to an increase of 0.64% cardiac and respiratory mortality.

The effect was stronger for the age group 65-74, with a 0.70% increase in mortality for an increase of 10 ppm of ozone, while in the under 65 and 75 years and older, mortality was increased similarly to the general population (0.50% and 0.52%, respectively).

Thus, according to their calculations, based on mortality data for 2000, the authors estimate that a 10 ppm daily ozone is associated with 319 premature deaths per year in New York City and 3,767 deaths Annual premature for the 95 urban communities studied.

"These figures are probably an underestimate of the total mortality as an increase in ozone because they take into account only the short-term effects," say the authors.

"In addition, we found an association between mortality and ozone pollution levels below current regulatory standards," they note.

Indeed, by taking into account that the days during which the ozone levels did not exceed 60 ppm, mortality was increased by 0.15% to an increase of 10 ppm of ozone levels the previous day.