Influence of ozone air contamination on the number of deaths ascribed to respiratory causes in Madrid (Spain) during 1990-1998

摘要

In this paper the influence of the air quality on the mortality associated with respiratory causes in the Madrid (Spain) area during 1990-1998 is analysed. Air pollutants and mortality show that during this period there were two different effects; periodic annual fluctuations plus a monotonic evolution. It has been found that the slope values and signs of the monotonic components are different for each pollutant and mortality ascribed to respiratory causes; negative for particles, SO_2, and NO_x and positive for the O_3 concentration and mortality values. A casual relationship between the mortality ascribed to respiratory causes and ozone concentration during the 1900-1998 period has been found. The variation detected in the Ultraviolet Index and traffic in Madrid City during the 1990-1998 period is also considered.