Family Surveys of Irritation Symptoms During Acute Air Pollution Exposures

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Abstract
New York and Southeastern neighborhoods participating in the Community Health and Environmental Surveillance (CHESS) program of the Environmental Protection Agency were studied during air pollution episodes occurring in the summer of 1970 and in April, 1971. Total suspended particulate concentrations in high exposure neighborhoods during episodes ranged from 172 to 192 μg/m3 in New York and from 179 to 269/m3 in Birmingham. S02 levels were 340 μg/m3 in New York and less than 16 μg/m3 in Birmingham. Cough, chest discomfort, and restricted activity were most consistently affected during episodes. Non-smokers reported fewer symptoms than smokers but were equally affected by the episodes. Blacks reported fewer symptoms than whites and also experienced excess symptoms during episodes. Among whites, symptom reporting did not differ in higher or lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. Responses to questions about joint pain and constipation, which were used as a bias indicator, showed no excess among residents in high exposure neighborhoods. Female respondents generally reported higher symptom rates, excepting the bias indicators, for themselves than for their husbands or children. Excess symptom rates occurred during air pollution exposures below the 24-hour national primary standards for total suspended particulates and sulfur dioxide.

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