title: Mortality and air pollution - lessons from statistics.
abstract: This paper reviews cross sectional studies which attempt to link persistent geographic differences in mortality rates with air pollution. Some early studies are mentioned and detailed results are given from seven major contemporary studies, two of which are still in the publication process. Differences among the studies are discussed with regard to statistical techniques, trends in the results over time (1959-1974), and interpretation and use of the results. The analysis concludes that there are far too many problems with this technique to allow causality to be firmly established, and thus the results should not be used for cost benefit or policy analysis.
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009026:Mortality; D014481:United States