Evaluating the U.S. Air Quality Index as a risk communication tool: Comparing associations of index values with respiratory morbidity among adults in California.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the United States is widely used to communicate daily air quality information to the public. While use of the AQI has led to reported changes in individual behaviors, such behavior modifications will only mitigate adverse health effects if AQI values are indicative of public health risks. Few studies have assessed the capability of the AQI to accurately predict respiratory morbidity risks.

Methods and findings

In three major regions of California, Poisson generalized linear models were used to assess seasonal associations between 1,373,165 respiratory emergency department visits and short-term exposure to multiple metrics between 2012-2014, including: daily concentrations of NO2, O3, and PM2.5; the daily reported AQI; and a newly con

SUBMITTER: Cromar KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7671501 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature