Ground-Level Ozone Concentration and the Health Status in Various Age Groups of Muscovites in Summer 2010

Abstract

An elevation of the ozone level in surface air due to climate change and increasing atmospheric pollution can lead to an increase in the morbidity and mortality of a population. The correlation between anomalously high surface concentrations of ozone in Moscow and morbidity and mortality in various age groups of the population in summer 2010 has been studied. The correlation of moderate ozone concentrations with the frequency of cardiovascular disease and mortality in a nonindustrialized area in the south of Kirov oblast is presented for comparison. The connection between high surface concentrations of ozone in Moscow and pneumonia incidence rate in various age groups is demonstrated. A statistically reliable correlation is observed in the groups of men and women of 31–60 years of age and older, but not in the respective groups of 15- to 30-year-olds. The population’s overall mortality and mortality in the group of people older than 70 also shows a significant correlation with surface ozone concentrations, with elderly people being the most vulnerable. The frequency of ambulance calls related to cardiovascular disease increased significantly in the south of Kirov oblast (a nonindustrialized area) when the average daily maximal allowed ozone concentration (MACad) was exceeded for several days in a row and the SOMO35 integral parameter of ozone dose was 678 µg/m3 day. Neither anomalously high air temperatures at low ozone concentrations nor the smoke from forest fires caused an increase in the number of ambulance calls. This study has demonstrated that the Russian MACad standard for ozone, 30 µg/m3, is justified.