Epidemiological Study of Susceptibility to Cardiorespiratory Death from Particulate Air Pollution

We conducted a 17 yr time series of mortality in urban elderly populations associated with black smoke (BS) pollution in relation to prior cardiorespiratory emergency hospital admission as a possible index of susceptibility. There were significant associations between BS and all cause mortality in Glasgow and Edinburgh and these were largest following respiratory admissions in those who survived more than 3 yr after their last discharge. These data suggest that emergency hospital admission with respiratory disease may indicate subsequent increasing susceptibility to particulate air pollution.