Fresno, Calif., air a lung patient risk

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Air pollution is a major health risk for patients in Fresno, Calif., who suffer from chronic lung diseases, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, compared the weekly rates of those admitted to a hospital emergency room with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with air pollution indices for corresponding weeks.

There were 1,184 emergency room visits in total -- 60 percent by female patients. Of the total emergency room visits, 79 percent of patients were admitted and 2 percent were intensive care unit admissions.

The study found an increased ambient particulate matter 2.5 level was associated with an increase in weekly emergency room visits. However, there was no association between ambient ozone level and weekly emergency room visits from respiratory illness.

The researchers concluded air pollution as measured by particulate matter -- a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets -- has a greater impact on patients with chronic airway disease than ambient ozone level.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in San Diego.