Evaluation of CHESS: New York asthma data 1970--71. Final report. Volume I. Findings and supporting tables. [Negative relation of air pollution levels to incidence of asthma attacks in residents of New York City]

This report presents a careful statistical reanalysis of one data set from the EPA-sponsored CHESS epidemiological studies which was collected in greater New York in 1970-71. The original analysis of this data set linked increased asthma attack rates in human populations with suspended particulate and suspended sulfate air pollution. The reevaluation of the data reported here does not support the hypothesis of a positive association between the incidence of asthma attacks and levels of suspended particulate or suspended ambient sulfate levels as suggested by CHESS researchers. Study constraints and limitations raise serious questions about the validity of the collected data.