The impact of weather changes on air quality and health in the United States in 1994-2012.

ABSTRACT: Air quality is heavily influenced by weather conditions. In this study, we assessed the impact of long-term weather changes on air quality and health in the US during 1994-2012. We quantified past weather-related increases, or 'weather penalty', in ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and thereafter estimated the associated excess deaths. Using statistical regression methods, we derived the weather penalty as the additional increases in air pollution relative to trends assuming constant weather conditions (i.e., weather-adjusted trends). During our study period, temperature increased and wind speed decreased in most US regions. Nationally, weather-related 8 h max O₃ increases were 0.18 ppb per year (95% CI: 0.06, 0.31) in the warm season (May-Oct

SUBMITTER: Jhun I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4996129 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature