What Methods are Used to Study the Health Effects of Air Pollution?
Several methodological approaches are employed in epidemiology to study the health effects of air pollution. Cohort studies follow a group of individuals over time to assess their exposure to pollutants and subsequent health outcomes. Case-control studies compare individuals with a specific health condition to those without, examining their historical exposure levels. Time-series analyses investigate the temporal relationship between fluctuations in air pollution and health events, such as hospital admissions or mortality rates.