Inhal Toxicol 2006 Jul; 18(8): 549-54 (Read article online)

Tsai SS, Cheng MH, Chiu HF, Wu TN, Yang CY

This study was undertaken to determine whether there is an association between air pollutants levels and hospital admissions for asthma in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for asthma and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period from 1996 through 2003. The relative risk of hospital admission was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. In the single-pollutant models, on warm days (>/= 25 degrees C) statistically significant positive associations were found in all pollutants except sulfur dioxide (SO(2)). On cool days (