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Abstract
The relationship of chronic respiratory symptoms and residence-associated air pollution was evaluated through use of questionnaire data on twins in the National Research Council Twin Registry. Estimates of air pollution were based on residential and work place history. Two different scores were developed. One score evaluated residence only in terms of an urban-rural continuum and the other provided quantitative estimates of air pollution in postal Zone Improvement Program locations.
Among individuals, respiratory symptoms were found to be related to urban residence as measured by the first score, but not to the more specific measure of air pollution exposure. Smoking, the drinking of alcohol and socioeconomic status were also positively associated with respiratory symptoms. No significant differences were noted between members of twin pairs if one twin maintained a more urban residence than the other or if one twin had a higher measure of exposure to air pollution than the other. The latter comparisons used pairs with a comparable smoking experience for the twins.