Air pollution, climate, socioeconomic status and total mortality in the United States.
This study examines the relative effects of air pollution, climate, and socioeconomic status (SES) on total mortality rate for 49 cities in the United States during the period 1968-1970 by using the multivariate regression model. Socioeconomic variables explain a greater percentage of the variation in the total mortality than do air pollution and climate variables. The results showed that excess mortality was associated with concentrations of benzene-soluble organic matter (BSO) and, to a lesser extent, total suspended particulates (TSP). It seemed likely that TSP and BSO were acting as a substitute for one another, without causal relationship. These findings have provided some limited conclusions; and more refined research is proposed.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002980:Climate; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States