Health Risks of Short-term S02 Exposure to Exercising Asthmatics |
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| Authors: | Peter C Freudenthal H Daniel Roth Thomas Hammerstrom Carolyn Lichtenstein Ronald E Wyzga |
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| Institution: | 1. Freudenthal Associates , Allandale , New Jersey , USA;2. Roth Associates, Inc , Rockville , Maryland , USA;3. Electric Power Research Institute , Palo Alto , California , USA |
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| Abstract: | A method is described for quantifying health risks to asthmatics briefly exposed to elevated levels of SO2. By combining symptomologlcal and physiological measurements, we have developed a dose-response surface that relates both severity and incidence of response to ambient air quality levels. The complete model to assess potentially avoidable risks includes power plant emission data; ambient SO2 background levels; demographic and activity patterns of asthmatics, the identified population at risk; and the dose-response surface. The estimated annual risk to persons experiencing an SO2-lnduced response due to a nearby power plant is quite small (response rates under 3 percent). Uncertainties due to modeling errors, variations in activity patterns, demographics and physiological response are discussed. |
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