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Several epidemiological studies have provided evidence of an association between daily mortality and airborne particulate
matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Little is known, however, about the relative effects of PM2.5 components.
In 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Air Resources Board embarked on a program to systematically
collect data on constituents of PM2.5 throughout much of California, providing an opportunity to examine daily
measurements of these data in relation to mortality.
In this presentation, Dr. Ostro reports on the results of a recent study examining the associations between daily
mortality and several PM2.5 components, including elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC), nitrates, sulfates,
and various metals. The findings support the hypothesis that combustion-associated pollutants are particularly
important in California. PM2.5 mass and several constituents were associated with multiple mortality categories,
especially cardiovascular deaths. This analysis adds to the growing body of evidence linking PM2.5 with mortality
and, more importantly, indicates that excess risks may vary among specific PM2.5 components. |
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Bart Ostro, Ph.D., is currently the Chief of the Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Ostro's primary responsibilities
are to develop OEHHA's recommendations for state ambient air quality standards and to investigate the potential
health effects of criteria air pollutants. Dr. Ostro has published over 75 scientific papers and his research has
contributed to the development of both federal and state air pollution standards for ozone, particulate matter
and lead.
Dr. Ostro was a co-author of the U.S. EPA cost-benefit analysis that resulted in the federal ban of lead in gasoline.
Dr. Ostro recently served on a National Academy of Sciences Committee addressing the quantification of the health
benefits of reducing ambient air pollution, and is currently a member of the U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board
committee responsible for reviewing U.S. EPA's quantification of health benefits and is chairman of the Health
Effects Subcommittee. Dr. Ostro has worked on establishing international air quality standards for the World Health
Organization (WHO) and on estimating the global burden of disease related to air pollution, and has been involved
in air pollution policy and epidemiologic training in Thailand, Chile, India, China, Indonesia, Mexico, the United
Kingdom, and Italy. Dr. Ostro's epidemiologic/economic model for estimating the health and economic effects of
air pollution control, developed for the World Bank and WHO, has been used extensively throughout the developing
world. In 2005, Dr. Ostro was selected as the recipient of the Clean Air Award by the California branch of the
American Lung Association. |
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For more information on this
Seminar please contact:
Peter Mathews at (916) 323-8711 or send email to: pmathews@arb.ca.gov
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For a complete listing of
the ARB Chairman's Series and the related documentation for each one of the series please check this page
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