AIR-POLLUTION AND DAILY MORTALITY IN AMSTERDAM

Few data are available on the association between the present low leve ls of air pollution in Western Europe and mortality. Daily mortality c ounts and the concentrations of black smoke, inhalable particles (PM(1 0)), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O-3) were available for Amsterdam from 1986 to 1992. We used Poisson regression analysis to control for seasonal and other long-term temporal patterns . Black smoke and PM(10) were positively associated with increased ris k of mortality. The relative risk for a 100-mu g per m(3) increase in black smoke on the same day was 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1 .02-1.38], and that for a 100-mu g per m(3) increase in PM(10) was 1.0 6 (95% CI = 0.99-1.14). The relative risk for individuals over 64 year s of age was higher. We found no consistent association between the le vels of SO2 or CO and daily mortality, but ozone lagged 2 days was pos itively associated with daily mortality. The effect of particulates on acute mortality was independent of these pollutants. The results of t he present study are consistent with the relation reported between par ticulate air pollution and daily mortality in other communities in Eur ope and the United States.