A Correlation Study of Atmospheric Conditions & Incidences of Respiratory Deaths

• Main Author: Wilder, Bernice
• Format: Others
• Published: TopSCHOLAR® 1976
• Subjects: Geography; Meteorology; Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology; Physical and Environmental Geography; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/2965; https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3983&context=theses

Mortality data from two populations, Bowling Green and Lexington, Kentucky, were correlated with atmospheric conditions for this region. The mortality data included the cause of death by respiratory disease, age, sex and race. The respiratory diseases considered in this study were emphysema, tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, influenza, acute and chronic bronchitis. The atmospheric conditions considered t have an effect on health were temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity and precipitation. Mean temperature, mean barometric pressure, and mean precipitation per month were correlated with the death rate per thousand but proved no significance at the .05 level in either study area. IN the null hypotheses low temperatures, high barometric pressure, and dry weather did not show a high significant correlation with death rate. The availability of data and sample size were limiting factors in this study.