Health Effects of Ozone
People With Asthma
There are over 208,000 people is the Greater St. Louis Region who have asthma. The effects of ozone are most dangerous for people who are sensitive - people with asthma or other lung disease, children or the elderly.
Ozone can aggravate asthma, causing more asthma attacks, increased use of medication, more medical treatment, and more visits to hospital emergency clinics.
Look below to see the estimated number of people in the Greater St. Louis Region who have chronic lung disease.
| Estimated number of people per county with... | ||||||
County |
Total Population | Lung Cancer |
Emphysema | Chronic Bronchitis |
Adult Asthma |
Pediatric Asthma |
| Franklin | 96,905 | 71 | 1,075 | 2,900 | 5,801 | 2,189 |
| Jefferson | 206,786 | 151 | 2,203 | 6,018 | 12,477 | 4,718 |
| St. Charles | 311,531 | 220 | 2,953 | 8,885 | 14,489 | 7,382 |
| St. Louis County | 1,013,123 | 752 | 12,407 | 31,687 | 61,648 | 21,362 |
| St. Louis City | 332,223 | 252 | 3,607 | 9,835 | 19,703 | 7,474 |
| Jersey | 22,188 | 16 | 272 | 698 | 1,297 | 389 |
| Madison | 261,689 | 192 | 3,120 | 8,124 | 15,056 | 4,745 |
| Monroe | 29,723 | 21 | 345 | 914 | 1,700 | 546 |
| St. Clair | 258,606 | 188 | 2,871 | 7,668 | 14,337 | 5,226 |
| TOTALS | 2,532,774 | 1,863 | 28,853 | 76,729 | 146,508 | 54,031 |
Cite: Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Lung Disease by Lung Association Territory, American Lung Association, July 2005.
In 1996, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) estimated the natiowide prevalence of COPD. An individual respondent to the NHIS can report the presence of more than one chronic lung disease: for example, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. For this reason, we have derived separate estimates for these diseases. Please do not add these estimates to calculate COPD prevalence, as existing overlap would overestimate the prevalence in your community.
Click here to learn how healthy adults are affected by ozone.
