Ozone and particulate matter air pollution in Wisconsin: trends and estimates of health effects.
OBJECTIVE
Ozone and particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or less (PM10) are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This paper will report ozone and PM10 trends in Wisconsin and provide estimates of potentially susceptible populations and adverse health outcomes associated with current levels of these pollutants.


METHODS
Ozone and PM10 monitoring data is provided by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) air monitors. Exposure-response modeling and data, provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), was used to estimate hospital admissions associated with ozone and PM10 pollution.


RESULTS
Days with high ozone concentrations have become less frequent and the annual PM10 levels have decreased over the 1990s. However, the potentially susceptible population has increased, the number of children who could experience a lung function decrement due to ozone is between 12,978 and 38,653, and high PM10 concentrations are estimated to have resulted in 43 hospital admissions.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite decreasing ozone and PM10 levels, the burden of respiratory and cardiovascular disease affected by these pollutants remains significant.
Daggett
D A
DA
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Public Health, PO Box 2659, Madison, WI 53701-2659, USA.
Myers
J D
JD
Anderson
H A
HA
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014922:Wisconsin
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D010126:Ozone