A Respiratory Riskscape for Texas Cities: A Spatial Analysis of Air Pollution, Demographic Attributes and Deaths from 2000 Through 2004

Abstract

This study utilizes readily available criteria air pollution data from federal government sources to determine the spatial pattern of urban air pollutants. Using both geographic information systems spatial processing functions and statistical analysis, these data are then combined with respiratory and nonrespiratory decedents' demographic characteristics (including age, race/ethnicity, and gender). Respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, are a leading cause of illness and death in the United States. The areas studied include the major Texas cities of Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. The purpose of this research is to develop a ``respiratory riskscape{''} in two steps. First, a spatial model of air pollutants for major urban areas in Texas is created. Second, the spatial pattern revealed by that model is analyzed for any significant relationships between Specific Pollutant sources/emissions and decedent's demographic characteristics, and mortality rates where respiratory disease is a primary or contributing cause of death. Results show variations among urban areas, and a complex interaction between pollution data and mortality rates based on demographic attributes.