Ozone Sends Denver Elderly to Hospitals

A study published in 2003 tracked hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases at all 11 Denver County hospitals during July and August between 1993 and 1997. The study focused on men and women older than 65 years of age.

Researchers found that ozone pollution increases the risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerosis, and pulmonary heart disease among the elderly.

The scientists concluded that “exposures to higher air pollutant concentrations (except for particulate matter and NO2), even at levels that meet federal air quality standards, appear to have an effect of increasing the number of hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases as a whole.”

This is yet one more reason to push for strong smog reductions in the Denver metro area.