Quantification of health effects related to SO2, NO2, O3 and particulate matter exposure. Report from the Nordic expert meeting Oslo, 15-17 October, 1995.

Estimates of exposure–response relationships are needed to assess the health impact of environmental factors. Based on available research evidence, the relationships for the common air pollutants – particulate matter, sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – were reviewed by the Nordic Expert Meeting. The Meeting concluded by quantifying exposure–response relationships for particulate matter, SO2 and ozone; the relationship for NO2 was not quantified. The Meeting also identified other exposure–response relationships that were felt to be substantiated, but for which the available data did not provide sufficient background to quantify the risk. The reported concentration–response associations relate to short-term changes in risk due to changes in levels of pollutants. For chronic effects of prolonged exposures the data were judged to be insufficient for quantification.