NRDC: Breath-Taking - Washington: Particulate Air Pollution Attributable Mortality by MSA

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Issues: Air

Breath-taking
Premature Mortality Due to Particulate Air Pollution in 239 American Cities

Washington: Particulate Air Pollution Attributable Mortality by MSA

This table identifies Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the state of Washington. For each MSA, the table shows PM-10 concentration and NRDC's estimate of air pollution attributable deaths.

The table shows the average annual mean PM-10 concentration in each MSA over the five-year period, 1990 through 1994. The higher the PM-10 concentration, the greater the risk of premature mortality from heart and lung disease.

For each MSA, we present point and range estimates of the annual adult cardiopulmonary deaths attributable to air pollution The estimates are derived by applyting a risk factor reported in a study of an American Cancer Society cohort to MSA-specific information on PM-10 concentrations and mortality from selected causes. The range estimates are derived from the confidence intervals for the risk ratio reported in the ACS study.

For the purposes of comparison, the table also shows the total number of cardiopulmonary deaths in the MSA and the number of deaths from car accidents.

Metropolitan Statistical Area	Average Annual Mean PM-10 Concentration (1990-1994) (ug/m³)	Estimated Annual Cardiopulmonary Deaths Attributable to Particulate Air Pollution					Adult Cardio- Pulmonary Deaths (1989)	Deaths from Auto Accidents (1989)
Metropolitan Statistical Area	Average Annual Mean PM-10 Concentration (1990-1994) (ug/m³)	Point Estimate	Range			Deaths per 100,000 Population	Adult Cardio- Pulmonary Deaths (1989)	Deaths from Auto Accidents (1989)
BELLINGHAM, WA	22.5	22	13	-	30	21	444	26
BREMERTON, WA	18.6	14	8	-	20	10	604	30
OLYMPIA, WA	22.9	26	15	-	36	21	507	18
PORTLAND, OR-WA	23.9	307	180	-	425	25	5,388	225
RICHLAND-KENNEWICK-PASCO, WA	30.0	45	27	-	62	31	476	29
SEATTLE-EVERETT, WA	27.7	501	296	-	690	31	6,237	281
SPOKANE, WA	38.7	220	132	-	299	64	1,516	57
TACOMA, WA	30.0	195	116	-	268	40	2,062	89
YAKIMA, WA	33.1	94	56	-	129	54	833	56

Point estimates are derived from the risk ratio reported in the ACS study. Ranges are derived from 95-percent confidence intervals around the risk ratio in the ACS study.

Metropolitan Statistical Areas are as defined by the Office of Management and Budget for 1980, except for New England, where areas are New England County Metropolitan Areas.