Presentation #1 will present results of a study to determine if an association exists between the frequency of patient respiratory distress episodes in the Knox County metropolitan area of East Tennessee and the amount of ground level ozone present. The paper presented on this issue will document respiratory distress episodes exhibited by illnesses such as bronchitis, attacks of asthma or acute symptoms chronic diseases such as as emphysema, as documented through outpatient and emergency room visits or inpatient hospital admissions and compare these to the amount of monitored ground level ozone for any given day from April to September for the years 1994-1999. The results of a computer model comparing seasonal variation, time trends and incidents of reported respiratory distress will be reported. A profile describing patient groups with respiratory distress will be discussed including an analysis of age, race, sex, and county of residence.
Learning Objectives: 1) identify common respiratory disease associated with high levels of air pollution. 2) define low level ground ozone and give its seasonal characteristics. 3) describe a research strategy for assessing potential associations between high ozone levels and respiratory distress
Keywords: Asthma, Air Pollutants
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Tennessee
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.