Decrease in Sulfur Oxides Air Pollution and Resulting Effects on Health in Yokkaichi Area

为了评价改善四日市地区空气中硫氧化物污染的效果，进行了各种流行病学调查。使用国民健康保险收据的就诊率和新患者发生率调查：通过调查国民健康保险支付报表，调查慢性阻塞性呼吸道疾病的就诊率和新患者发生率。目前，污染区的医生就诊率是对照区的两倍多-在达到二氧化硫环境标准10多年后。另一方面，直到1980年，在污染区，各年龄组支气管哮喘的新发病率较高，直到1979年，40岁以上慢性支气管炎的新发病率较高，而此后发病率已降至对照组水平。 ...更多信息 由于环境污染的改善，这两种疾病的发病率都有所下降。呼吸道症状的患病率：B.M.R.C.调查表自1963年起，对污染区40岁以上居民进行慢性支气管炎和哮喘发病率调查，结果显示，污染程度越高的行政区，慢性支气管炎和哮喘发病率越高。所有地区的慢性支气管炎发病率在达到二氧化硫环境标准之前都有所上升，此后由于污染的改善，发病率有所下降。目前，除两个污染最严重的地区外，其余地区均已降至对照区水平。哮喘发作患病率对污染的改善具有高度的敏感性，除一个地区外，其余地区哮喘发作患病率均提高到对照区水平.慢性阻塞性呼吸道疾病的死亡率：自1963年以来，对慢性阻塞性呼吸道疾病的死亡率进行了20多年的调查。在污染区。在二氧化硫达标后4-5年，又提高到参考区水平。少

Various types of epidemiological investigation have been performed to evaluate the effect of the improvement of air pollution by sulphur oxides in Yokkaichi area.1. Survey of the visit rate to physician and the incidence of the new patients using the receipts of National Health Insurance: By investigating the payment statement for national health insurance, the visit rate to physician and the incidence of the new patients for chronic obstructive respiratory diseases were surveyed. Visit rate to physician in the pollution area was more than twice as high as that of the control area at present - more than 10 years after the environmental standards for sulphur dioxide were met. On the other hand, the incidence of the new patients had been found at higher rate in the pollution area until 1980 for bronchial asthma in all age groups and until 1979 for chronic bronchitis for the patients of 40 years old of older, whereas the incidence has been reduced thereafter to the level of the control ar … More ea for both of these diseases because of the improvement in the environmental pollution.2. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms: The surveyb slip of B.M.R.C. was simplified from 1963, and the questionnaire was disseminated to all residents older than 40 years old in the polluted area to investigate the prevalence of chronic bronchitis and asthmatic attacks both of these symptoms showed higher prevalence in the administrative area with higher pollution. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis increased for all areas until environmental standards for sulphur dioxide were met, and it was decreased thereafter due to the improvement of pollution. At present, it was decreased as low as that of the control area except two areas, where the pollution was at the severest. The prevalence of asthmatic attacks responded with high sensitivity to the impovement of the pollution, and it was improved to the level of the control area except one area.3. Mortality from chronic obstructive respiratory diseases: The mortality from chronic obstructive respiratory diseases has been investigated for more than 20 years since 1963. In the pollution area. it was improved to the level of the reference area 4-5 years after the environmental standards for sulphur dioxide were satisfied. Less