Short term exposure to ambient ozone increases mortality in the United States

Question

Does short term exposure to ambient ozone increase mortality in the United States?

Study design

Cross sectional time series.

Main results

A 10 parts per billion by volume (ppb) increase in daily ambient ozone levels in the previous week significantly increased all-cause and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality (all-cause: 0.52%, 95% posterior interval 0.27% to 0.77%; cardiovascular and respiratory: 0.64%, 95% posterior interval 0.31% to 0.98%). The findings were robust after adjustment for particulate matter, weather, seasonality, and long term trends.

Authors’ conclusions

A 10 ppb increase in daily ambient ozone levels in the previous week increased all-cause and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality.