Porthole
Human health effects of air pollution: Statistics and Public Policy (306630)
*C. Arden Pope, Brigham Young UniversityKeywords: Air pollution, health, study designs, statistical methods
Epidemiological studies of air pollution and health has a rich and complex history. Episode studies, daily time-series studies, panel-based acute exposure studies, and case-crossover studies provides substantive evidence suggesting that short-term air pollution exposure exacerbates existing cardio-pulmonary disease and increases the risk of becoming symptomatic, requiring medical attention, or even dying. Natural experimental studies, population-based cross-sectional mortality studies, and cohort-based survival analyses suggest larger impacts of long-term air pollution exposure. An important aspect of this research has been the use, adaptation, and development of statistical modeling approaches. Most recently, there has been a growing emphasis on intervention, natural, or quasi-experimental studies and the use of causal modeling approaches. This presentation will briefly outline the scientific history of air pollution and health research. Primary statistical approaches that have been used and related challenges of analyzing the diverse health endpoint data will also be addressed. Specific, high profile examples that have substantially impacted public policy will be provided.