Correlation Between Ozone Concentration and Mortality Rates from Chronic Respiratory Diseases Across U.S. Counties

Abstract

This study focused on how exposure to high levels of ozone air pollution affects chronic respiratory disease mortality in different regions of the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine temporal and regional differences and thus to identify areas most affected by ozone pollution. The data for this study specifically focused on mortality rates and ozone index in different states in the United States in 2000. This study stratified the ozone data and used Linear Mixed Models (LLM) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models to determine the correlation between ozone levels and respiratory mortality. The study found significant differences in ozone distribution in the United States. Ozone has a greater impact on mortality in the west and central regions. In southern and eastern, ozone impact on mortality smaller or even negative. This study enriches existing knowledge by highlighting the relationship between regional ozone differences the mortality of air pollution and provides a foundation for future environmental health policy research.