Air Pollution and Mortality in Yokkaichi Area

An epidemiological survey has been carried out on the relationship between air pollution and mortality in Yokkaichi area covering from 1961 to 1970. The death rate from obstructive respiratory diseases, especially bronchial asthma and emphysema, increased in the polluted area since 1966 and a significant difference in death rates was noticed among the polluted and non-polluted areas. Mortality from these diseases obviously correlates with the degree of sulphur dioxide concentrations in 1968 and 1969. The age-distribution of deaths from obstructive respiratory diseases was studied during a ten-year-period. Deaths from bronchial asthma occurred at younger ages in the polluted areas, while deaths from emphysema were not encountered among women in the non-polluted areas.