1978 Volume 13 Issue 8 Pages 305-309
We reported in this study on a relationship between a change in air pollution and its influence on human body in Yokkaichi city.
By means of the national health insurance cards in 1970, 1973 and 1976, analysis was made not only of the correlation between the degree of pollution by district and visit rate to physician on diseases of respiratory organs but also of the influence by the social and economic factors such as density of popullation, size of family, density of medical institution and on-relief rate.
With the degree of polluton as observable presently (1976) in Yokkaichi city (the maximum concentration of sulfur trioxide radicals with pbo2 method 0.68 mg/100 cm2/day, the amount of dustfall 6.4 tons/ km2/month), there was no influence of air pollution on acute respiratory diseases such as upper respiratory disease, common cold, acute bronchitis.
However, the correlation between chronic obstructive lung disease (bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and concentration of sulfur trioxide increases yearly, while visit rate to physician tends to rise in the district where the degree of pollution is higher.
Thus there is a need to continue further research and studies.
