The effect of certain airborne contaminants on severe and chronic asthmatics has been established, and continues to be refined through clinical study. However, there are still a number of unanswered questions related to this issue. This project examined data for Denver, Colorado to determine if any correlation could be found between air pollution events, and the episodes experienced by asthmatic patients.
Thresholds were established for certain airborne contaminants. For the purposes of this study, the days exceeding these thresholds were considered to be pollution events. The air pollution models (or isopleth maps) generated by Colorado's Air Pollution Control Division were used represent the spatial distribution and concentration each contaminant during a pollution event.
Asthma data was obtained from various sources available in Denver and the surrounding area. The data was geocoded to a census block group level, based on the residence of the patient (since specific exposure information was not available for these patients).
While this project does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between air pollution events and the frequency of asthmatic episodes, it does identify properties of data sets that can be used to select appropriate levels of spatial and temporal resolution. The methods used for this project also allow the user to examine air pollution events - however they are defined, and test for spatial and temporal relationships between these events and the frequency of asthmatic episodes. Finally, this project identifies ways to test for significance of any observed spatial and/or temporal relationships.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Air Pollutants, Asthma
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.