Premium
The effects of urban air pollution on health
Author(s) -
Ayres Stephen M.,
Buehler Meta E.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1970113337
Subject(s) - pollutant , environmental science , air pollution , pollution , sulfur dioxide , particulates , environmental chemistry , atmospheric pollution , air pollutants , human health , atmosphere (unit) , nitrogen dioxide , particulate pollution , environmental health , environmental protection , medicine , chemistry , meteorology , geography , biology , ecology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
An impressive body of scientific information points to the inescapable conclusion that the levels of pollutant contamination existing today in many American cities are sufficient to produce profound health consequences. This review describes the relationship between pollutant emission, atmospheric cleansing processes, and ambient air pollutant concentrations. Toxicologic studies involving the administration of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate suspensions to both animals and man are reviewed and demonstrate that single pollutants cannot explain the irritant potential of the urban atmosphere. A number of important epidemiologic studies are presented which emphasize the relationship between human illness and atmospheric pollution, Synthesis of both toxicologic and epidemologic studies leads to the conclusion that the noxious nature of the environment is due to a complicated "mix" of pollutant and meteorologic factors.