Air Pollution and Mortality

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Abstract
On December 5, 1952, a severe temperature inversion occurred over London, leading to a substantial accumulation of air pollutants emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels. This phenomenon was associated with an abrupt increase in the mortality rate, resulting in about 4000 excess deaths1. Although deaths from all causes (except motor vehicle accidents) were increased, the largest increase was in deaths due to respiratory diseases. The striking temporal association between the “London fog incident” and increased mortality left little doubt that air pollution was the cause of the deaths.Previous episodes of excess mortality associated with air pollution had . . .