1,3-丁二烯作业工人的DNA修复能力

[目的]探讨DNA修复能力与1,3-丁二烯（BD）职业暴露致外周血淋巴细胞遗传学损伤的关联性。[方法]收集个人职业史、年龄、性别、吸烟和饮酒状况等信息,气相色谱法检测作业环境的BD浓度,利用染色体断裂试验评价60名职业BD暴露工人和60名非暴露工人的外周血淋巴细胞对诱变剂博莱霉素所致DNA损伤的修复能力。[结果]作业区空气中BD浓度为1.8（0.59~2.76）mg/m3。职业BD暴露组染色体断裂率[（1.06±0.41）%]高于对照组[（0.85±0.36）%,P〈0.01]。职业BD暴露人群中饮酒者的b/c值高于不饮酒者（P〈0.05）。[结论]DNA修复能力的下降可能是BD致癌过程中的重要生物学事件。     

上海市大气污染与某医院呼吸系统疾病门诊量关系的时间序列研究

[目的]探讨上海市大气污染物对人群呼吸系统疾病门诊量的短期影响。[方法]收集2010年1月1日—2012年10月31日上海市某三级甲等医院呼吸系统疾病每日门诊量统计资料和同期上海市大气及气象监测资料,采用时间序列的半参数广义相加模型,在控制了长期趋势、星期几效应、假期效应及气象因素等混杂因素的基础上,分析大气污染物与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的关系。[结果]研究期间,呼吸系统疾病日门诊量为76~382人次。单污染模型中,二氧化硫（SO2）滞后4 d对呼吸系统疾病的影响最明显,二氧化氮（NO2）、可吸入颗粒物（PM10）滞后6 d的影响最明显;SO2、NO2、PM10浓度每增加10μg/m3,呼吸系统疾病日门诊量上升0.69%（RR=1.006 9,95%CI：1.003 5~1.010 3）、0.54%（RR=1.005 4,95%CI：1.002 8~1.007 9）和0.20%（RR=1.002 0,95%CI：1.001 1~1.002 8）。多污染模型中,调整其他污染物后,所有污染物健康效应估计值均较单污染模型降低,并不改变各污染物浓度与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的正相关关系。[结论]大气污染物SO2、NO2、PM10与人群呼吸系统疾病门诊量存在正相关。     

Risk assessment of environmentally influenced airway diseases based on time-series analysis.

Threshold values are of prime importance in providing a sound basis for public health decisions. A key issue is determining threshold or maximum exposure values for pollutants and assessing their potential health risks. Environmental epidemiology could be instrumental in assessing these levels, especially since the assessment of ambient exposures involves relatively low concentrations of pollutants. This paper presents a statistical method that allows the determination of threshold values as well as the assessment of the associated risk using a retrospective, longitudinal study design with a prospective follow-up. Morbidity data were analyzed using the Fourier method, a time-series analysis that is based on the assumption of a high temporal resolution of the data. This method eliminates time-dependent responses like temporal inhomogeneity and pseudocorrelation. The frequency of calls for respiratory distress conditions to the regional Mobile Medical Emergency Service (MMES) in the city of Leipzig were investigated. The entire population of Leipzig served as a pool for data collection. In addition to the collection of morbidity data, air pollution measurements were taken every 30 min for the entire study period using sulfur dioxide as the regional indicator variable. This approach allowed the calculation of a dose-response curve for respiratory diseases and air pollution indices in children and adults. Significantly higher morbidities were observed above a 24-hr mean value of 0.6 mg SO2/m3 air for children and 0.8 mg SO2/m3 for adults.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

大气污染与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的时间序列分析

目的 探讨大气污染对医院呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的影响.方法 收集广州市某医院2006年1月1日-2008年12月31日呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的统计资料,结合同时期环境监测和气象资料,采用自回归模型(auto-regressionmodel),在消除了气象、季节等混杂冈素的基础上,分析了广州市研究期问大气污染与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的关系.结果 呼吸系统疾病日门诊的就诊量具有明显的星期效应(医院周六、周日休息所致),呼吸系统疾病就诊量较大月份与各污染物浓度较高的月份趋于一致.大气中SO_2和NO_2的浓度每增加10μg/m~3居民呼吸系统疾病的日门诊就诊最分别各增加3%(P<0.01).灰霾天气的窄气污染物浓度高于非灰霾天气.结论 广州市大气主要污染物SO_2和NO_2浓度的升高引起居民呼吸系统疾病的日门诊就诊量相应增加.

Abstract：

Objective To know the relationship between air pollutants and daily hospital visits for respiratory diseases in Guangzhou. Methods The data of daily hospital visits for respiratory diseases in a hospital in Guangzhou during 2006 to 2008, along with the daily meteorological factors, air pollutants concentration (NO_2, PM10.FM2.5 and SO_2) were collected. The time series analysis auto-regression model was used, considering the potential confounding factors such as seasonal and meteorological factors. Results Daily hospital visits for respiratory diseases presented a significant week effect, the time of higher daily hospital visits for respiratory diseases was the same of higher concentration of pollutants. When SO_2 and NO_2 increased by 10 μg/m~3, the daily hospital visits increased by 3%(P<0.01). The concentration of pollutants in haze days was higher than that in non-haze days. Conclusion Increase in daily hospital visits for respiratory diseases in Guangzhou can be caused by air pollutant level increasing.     

唐山市PM2.5污染对城市居民呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的影响

目的 评价PM_2.5污染程度对唐山市城市居民呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的影响。方法 收集唐山市2013年11月－2014年3月、2014年11月－2015年3月、2015年11月－2016年3月的气象监测数据、大气污染物浓度资料及各三级甲等综合性医院呼吸系统疾病日门诊人数,采用Pearson相关分析大气污染物、气象因素以及呼吸系统疾病门诊量之间的相关性；采用时间序列的广义相加模型分析大气污染浓度与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量之间的关联性。结果 2013年11月－2014年3月、2014年11月－2015年3月、2015年11月－2016年3月三个时间段内,各大气污染物之间每日浓度的相关性分析结果显示PM₁₀、PM_2.5、SO₂、NO₂、CO之间存在明显的正相关,各大气污染物与气湿之间呈正相关,除PM_2.5外,其他污染物与呼吸系统疾病日门诊量之间无明显的相关性。其中PM_2.5分别滞后1、2、4 d对呼吸系统疾病日门诊量影响最大。且PM_2.5浓度每增加10 μg/m3时,呼吸系统疾病日门诊量分别增加0.25%(95%CI：0.18%~0.32%)、0.65% (95%CI：0.31%~0.99%)、0.42% (95%CI：0.11%~0.73%)。结论 唐山市PM_2.5污染程度增高会导致呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的增加。     

2016—2020年江西省南昌市大气污染物与儿童呼吸疾病门诊病例数的时间序列关联研究

目的 探讨江西省南昌市6种常规监测大气污染物对儿童呼吸疾病的影响。方法 选取2016－2020年江西省南昌市大气污染物、气象数据和江西省儿童医院呼吸系统日门诊量,采用时间序列Poisson分布的广义相加模型（GAM）,定量分析大气污染物与儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊病例数的相关性。 结果 研究期间大气污染物SO2、NO2、O3-8h、CO、PM2.5、PM10的日均浓度分别为11.35 μg/m3、32.80 μg/m3、 91.80 μg/m3、0.89 mg/m3、37.42 μg/m3、68.22 μg/m3。PM2.5、PM10、SO2、CO、NO2的浓度升高对儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的增加存在统计学意义,均在当日（lag0）和累积滞后第7 d（lag07）效应最强,其中SO2在累积滞后（lag07）的浓度值对儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊病例数的超额危险度（ER = 9.47%,95%CI:6.78%～12.22%）最大。双污染物模型中,调整其他5种污染物后,O3-8h对儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊量的增加无统计学意义;将O3-8h引入双污染物模型后,均一定程度的增加了其他污染物的效应,SO2在O3-8h的影响下,对儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊数影响效应值最大;PM2.5、PM10、O3-8h引入双污染模型后,SO2和NO2的效应值均扩大。 结论 2016－2020年大气污染物对南昌市儿童呼吸系统疾病有统计学影响,污染物浓度的升高导致儿童呼吸系统门诊量就诊人数增加,其中SO2对门诊量影响最大。     

Associations between daily mortalities from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and air pollution in Hong Kong, China

Objective: To investigate the association between ambient concentrations of air pollutants and respiratory and cardiovascular mortalities in Hong Kong.

Methods: Retrospective ecological study. A Poisson regression of concentrations of daily air pollutants on daily mortalities for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Hong Kong from 1995 to the end of 1998 was performed using the air pollution and health: the European approach (APHEA) protocol. The effects of time trend, seasonal variations, temperature, and humidity were adjusted. Autocorrelation and overdispersion were corrected. Daily concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter <10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) were averaged from eight monitoring stations in Hong Kong. Relative risks (RRs) of respiratory and cardiovascular mortalities (per 10 µg/m³ increase in air pollutant concentration) were calculated.

Results: Significant associations were found between mortalities for all respiratory diseases and ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) and the concentrations of all pollutants when analysed singly. The RRs for all respiratory mortalities (for a 10 µg/m³ increase in the concentration of a pollutant) ranged from 1.008 (for PM₁₀) to 1.015 (for SO₂) and were higher for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) with all pollutants except SO₂, ranging from 1.017 (for PM₁₀) to 1.034 (for O₃). RRs for IHD ranged from 1.009 (for O₃) to 1.028 (for SO₂). In a multipollutant model, O₃ and SO₂ were significantly associated with all respiratory mortalities, whereas NO₂ was associated with mortality from IHD. No interactions were detected between any of the pollutants or with the winter season. A dose-response effect was evident for all air pollutants. Harvesting was not found in the short term.

Conclusions: Mortality risks were detected at current ambient concentrations of air pollutants. The associations with the particulates and some gaseous pollutants when analysed singly were consistent with many reported in temperate countries. PM₁₀ was not associated with respiratory or cardiovascular mortalities in multipollutant analyses.

     

兰州市大气气态污染物与呼吸系统疾病日入院人数的时间序列分析

目的探讨兰州市大气气态污染物NO2和SO2对呼吸系统疾病住院的健康效应。方法采用时间序列的半参数广义相加模型(GAM),在控制了时间的长期趋势、"星期几效应"及气象因子等混杂因素的影响后,分析2001-2005年兰州市大气NO2和SO2浓度与呼吸系统疾病入院人数的暴露-反应关系。结果大气NO2和SO2浓度对呼吸系统疾病入院人数具有不同程度的影响。单污染物模型中,NO2和SO2分别以滞后1天和0天对呼吸系统健康的影响最强。滞后1天NO2和无滞后SO2浓度增加一个四分位数间距时,呼吸系统疾病入院人数增加的相对危险度分别为:1.060(95%CI 1.046～1.074)和1.048(95%CI 1.031～1.065);女性和老年人为易感人群;2种污染物在秋冬季的作用比春夏季更明显。结论兰州市大气NO2和SO2浓度对呼吸系统疾病的日入院人数有影响。     

Atmospheric pollution and chronic respiratory diseases

A national cooperative study was conducted from 1974 to 1976 in twenty-four areas located in six French cities, in order to investigate the relationships of air pollution to ventilatory function and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. The concentrations of the following pollutants were daily measured: SO2, suspended particulates, NOx. The population included men and women, non manual workers, aged 25 to 59, and children, aged 6 to 10. The respiratory symptoms and other characteristics of the subjects were recorded and their ventilatory function was measured with a dry expirograph. The main results were as following: a) in adults of both sexes, the pollution in SO2 was associated with the prevalence of lower respiratory symptoms. b) in children, it was associated with the prevalence of upper respiratory symptoms. c) in both adults and children, the higher the SO2 concentration, the lower the FEV1. d) no other pollutant was related to respiratory diseases.     

新冠疫情前后成都市臭氧和呼吸系统疾病死亡之间的关联分析

目的 分析不同时间段成都市臭氧浓度和呼吸系统疾病死亡人数之间的关联。方法 成都市2018—2021年呼吸系统疾病的每日死亡数来自于四川省疾病预防控制中心,以新冠为断点描述两个时期呼吸系统疾病死亡数和臭氧浓度的变化,采用分布滞后非线性模型进行断点前后对比分析臭氧和呼吸道死亡风险之间的暴露-滞后-反应关联。结果 新冠发生前,成都市呼吸系统疾病死亡总数为41 465人,新冠疫情期间死亡总数为39 300人,除了臭氧,其余空气污染物浓度在新冠疫情期间有所下降。新冠发生前,臭氧与呼吸系统疾病死亡的关系曲线总体呈上升趋势,低浓度的RR值为0.477 6 (95%CI:0.282 1～0.808 5),各浓度下均存在滞后效应,中位浓度下滞后1天的RR值为0.974 5(95%CI:0.957 3～0.992 1)。在新冠疫情管控期间,臭氧与呼吸系统疾病死亡的暴露关联曲线总体呈下降趋势,低浓度对应的RR值为1.946 4 (95%CI:1.217 7～3.111 1),仅高浓度臭氧存在滞后效应,滞后1天的RR为0.999 4(95%CI:0.999 0～0.999 8)。结论 成都市的臭氧与呼吸系统疾...     

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Ambient Endotoxin Concentrations in Fresno,California

Background

Endotoxins are found in indoor dust generated by human activity and pets, in soil, and adsorbed onto the surfaces of ambient combustion particles. Endotoxin concentrations have been associated with respiratory symptoms and the risk of atopy and asthma in children.

Objective

We characterized the temporal and spatial variability of ambient endotoxin in Fresno/Clovis, California, located in California’s Central Valley, to identify correlates and potential predictors of ambient endotoxin concentrations in a cohort of children with asthma [Fresno Asthmatic Children’s Environment Study (FACES)].

Methods

Between May 2001 and October 2004, daily ambient endotoxin and air pollutants were collected at the central ambient monitoring site of the California Air Resources Board in Fresno and, for shorter time periods, at 10 schools and indoors and outdoors at 84 residences in the community. Analyses were restricted to May–October, the dry months during which endotoxin concentrations are highest.

Results

Daily endotoxin concentration patterns were determined mainly by meteorologic factors, particularly the degree of air stagnation. Overall concentrations were lowest in areas distant from agricultural activities. Highest concentrations were found in areas immediately downwind from agricultural/pasture land. Among three other measured air pollutants [fine particulate matter, elemental carbon (a marker of traffic in Fresno), and coarse particulate matter (PM_c)], PM_c was the only pollutant correlated with endotoxin. Endotoxin, however, was the most spatially variable.

Conclusions

Our data support the need to evaluate the spatial/temporal variability of endotoxin concentrations, rather than relying on a few measurements made at one location, in studies of exposure and and respiratory health effects, particularly in children with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.     

Air pollution and respiratory allergic diseases in schoolchildren

Study on the prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases in schoolchildren between six and seven years old, associated with indicators of air pollution. A questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood was administered to parents of students from public schools, located in urban areas with differing vehicle flows. There was a positive correlation between monthly frequency of rhinitis and concentration of pollutants, and negative with relative air humidity. Even with levels of air pollutants below that allowed by law, the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and associated symptoms tended to be higher in the central region school, where there is heavy vehicular traffic.     

Mortality during winter smog episodes 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1993 in the Czech Republic

OBJECTIVES: Severe air pollution episodes were recorded during the 1980s and early 1990s in the Czech Republic as a result of widespread combustion of brown coal. A population-based retrospective study investigated the relationship between air pollution and daily mortality in six highly polluted areas of the Czech Republic during smog episodes in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1993. METHODS: Total daily mortality, mortality by gender and age, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, data on weekly incidence of acute respiratory diseases and daily mean concentrations of sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matter were used in the model. The effects of smog on daily mortality were estimated by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Significant increases in mortality were observed for the 1982 and 1987 episodes (6% and 9%). In 1982, mortality was significantly associated with mean concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) of the current and the preceding days and with the 4-day moving average. In the 1985 episode a significant increase in respiratory mortality in men and in both genders together, lagging by 2 and 3 days, was detected. During the 1987 episode significant associations of total daily mortality, mortality in persons over 65 years of age and mortality from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases with 4-day moving average of both pollutants were found. For the 1993 episode a significant association between mortality in women under 65, lagging by 3 days, and mean concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the results are consistent with other studies aimed at episodic air pollution during the 1950s and 1960s in Western Europe and the USA, in which outdoor air pollution was shown to be a significant predictor of mortality. However, non-significant or opposite associations between air pollution and mortality indicate that other factors may also play an important role. A stronger effect on men under 65 years of age, suggested by a previous Czech study was not confirmed.     

2016-2018年乌鲁木齐市日均气温对呼吸系统疾病的影响

目的 了解乌鲁木齐市日均气温在不同滞后日对呼吸系统疾病急救风险的影响.方法 收集该市2016-2018年呼吸系统疾病的急救人次、气象和大气污染物数据.气象数据包括日均气温、相对湿度和平均气压;大气污染物数据包括细颗粒物、可吸人颗粒物、二氧化硫、二氧化氮、一氧化碳的日平均浓度和臭氧的日最大8h平均值.急救数据来自乌鲁木齐...     

Hygienic regulation of environmental air pollution with consideration of epidemiological data

The authors hold that the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) established in Russia for some ambient air pollutants can adversely affect human health and that they are worthy of reconsideration. This opinion is based on the published results of epidemiological studies of Western investigators and on the authors' own data obtained from the analysis by the time series method for a relationship of daily variations of dust or gaseous ambient air pollution to the so-called acute mortality or for that of the variations to respiratory symptoms and to the values of the maximum expiratory flow rate in preschool with or without respiratory abnormalities in their history; from the cross analysis of an association of the characteristics of atmospheric contamination in 13 urban areas with the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in junior schoolchildren, which was established by a special questionnaire. Particular emphasis should be laid on the reconsideration of not only established values, but mainly on the principles in laying down MAC for dust particles. The Western practice in measuring and evaluating risks separately for fractions of particles of varying sizes should be assessed for its use in Russian conditions; however, the authors' experience argues for this practice.     

石家庄市空气PM2.5浓度与儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊量的关系

目的 分析石家庄市PM_2.5浓度与儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的关系。方法 收集石家庄市2014-2016年气象、污染物及河北省儿童医院内科门诊呼吸系统门诊量数据,采用Poisson广义相加模型分析PM_2.5与儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的关系。根据暴露-反应关系曲线进行分段危险度评估。结果 石家庄市2014-2016年PM_2.5年均值为104.93 μg/m³,该医院儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量均值为690例。PM_2.5与日门诊量的暴露-反应关系为非线性,且在低剂量范围时影响较大,在滞后1 d时效应最强,日均浓度每升高10 μg/m³,其儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量增加0.26%（95%CI：0.14%~0.38%）。分析PM_2.5累积滞后效应时发现,PM_2.5对儿童呼吸系统日门诊量有累积滞后效应,在累积滞后7 d时效应最强。多污染物分析显示：PM_2.5在只引入SO₂时对呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的效应下降,且差异具有统计学意义。引入其他污染物时,差异均无统计学意义（均有P>0.05）。结论 石家庄市空气PM_2.5会导致儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊量增加。     

如皋地区环境因素对呼吸系统疾病死亡病例发生的影响

目的探讨如皋地区环境因素对当地居民呼吸系统疾病死亡病例发生的影响。方法利用如皋地区2011-2013年居民呼吸系统疾病死亡资料和同期气象数据、大气污染数据,采用冗余分析法分析环境因素与呼吸系统疾病死亡的关系。结果大气污染物中,SO2、NO2、PM10与各类呼吸系统疾病死亡关系密切,O3的影响不确定;气象要素中,温度、气压与其关系密切,而风速、相对湿度的影响不确定。结论环境因素对居民呼吸系统疾病死亡有着重要影响,SO2、NO2、PM10与其呈正相关,其中SO2对肺气肿的影响较其他污染物大;气温与各类呼吸系统疾病死亡人数呈显著负相关,气压则呈显著正相关;春季和冬季主要受各类污染物和气压的影响,春末和夏季主要受温度的影响。此类呼吸系统疾病患者应采取相应措施应对周围环境变化,防止死亡病例的发生。     

Air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE: To investigate short term effects of concentrations of pollutants in ambient air on hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Hong Kong. METHODS: Retrospective ecological study. A Poisson regression was performed of concentrations of daily air pollutant on daily counts of emergency hospital admissions in 12 major hospitals. The effects of time trend, season, and other cyclical factors, temperature, and humidity were accounted for. Autocorrelation and overdispersion were corrected. Daily concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter < 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) were obtained from seven air monitoring stations in Hong Kong in 1994 and 1995. Relative risks (RR) of respiratory and cardiovascular disease admissions (for an increase of 10 micrograms/m3 in concentration of air pollutant) were calculated. RESULTS: Significant associations were found between hospital admissions for all respiratory diseases, all cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and heart failure and the concentrations of all four pollutants. Admissions for asthma, pneumonia, and influenza were significantly associated with NO2, O3, and PM10. Relative risk (RR) for admissions for respiratory disease for the four pollutants ranged from 1.013 (for SO2) to 1.022 (for O3), and for admissions for cardiovascular disease, from 1.006 (for PM10) to 1.016 (for SO2). Those aged > or = 65 years were at higher risk. Significant positive interactions were detected between NO2, O3, and PM10, and between O3 and winter months. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse health effects are evident at current ambient concentrations of air pollutants. Further reduction in air pollution is necessary to protect the health of the community, especially that of the high risk group.

 

     

Acute effects of air pollution in Rome

Two time-series studies, aimed at evaluating the acute health effect of air pollution among Rome inhabitants, were carried out. In the first study the correlation between daily mortality (1992 to 1995) and daily concentrations of five air pollutants (particles, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) was analyzed. In the second study the association between daily levels of the same pollutants and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular disease (1995-97) was evaluated. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between pollutant levels and health effect variables; the models included smooth functions of day of study, mean temperature, mean humidity and indicator variables for day of the week and holidays. Daily total mortality was associated with particle average concentration on that day and with NO2 levels of one or two days before. Hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease were positively correlated to particles, SO2, NO2, e CO. Hospital admissions for respiratory disease were associated with NO2 and CO levels of the same day and of two days before among children (0-14 years) and among adults (15-64 years). Increments of ozone were associated with increments of total respiratory and of acute respiratory diseases in children (0-14 years).     

Application of COMEAP dose-response coefficients within a regulatory health impact assessment methodology. Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants

It is recognized that exposure to airborne pollutants can have a negative effect on human health. The Environment Agency in England and Wales has a statutory responsibility under the Environment Act 1990 to regulate emissions to air from large industrial processes with regard to the requirements of the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS). A technique was developed to apply pollutant dose-response relationships published by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) in a regulatory framework, incorporating long-term sulphur dioxide concentration values obtained using an air dispersion model. Modelled long-term average sulphur dioxide concentration values for 102 electoral wards comprising an exposed area surrounding a hypothetical industrial stack emission in southern England were incorporated into a human health impact assessment using COMEAP dose-response relationships and annual baseline health data. Additional numbers of deaths brought forward and respiratory hospital admissions per annum resulting from the hypothetical sulphur dioxide emission were estimated. A second calculation using monthly baseline health data and monthly averaged concentration values was carried out to assess the sensitivity of the estimate of health impact to seasonal variability of baseline health and modelled average concentration datasets. The annual incremental impact varied by 1.49 per cent between the 'annual' and 'sum of 12 months' analyses, suggesting that annual averaged modelled concentration values and annual baseline health data are sufficient for use in regulatory health impact assessments for large industrial processes using the COMEAP approach.