Objectives To evaluate the acute effect of ozone (O₃), a major atmospheric pollutant, on death of population in Yichang.

Methods  Daily meteorological data, air pollutants and the death in population in Yichang in 2014-2016 were collected and analyzed descriptively. Using a generalized linear model (GLM) based on Quasi-Poisson regression, controlling the long-term trend and seasonal trend, meteorological factors and the effect of the day of a week and holiday effects, the relation of the concentration of O₃in the air with daily death from respiratory diseases and its lag effect (Lag 1~Lag 7) were analyzed by a single-contaminant model. ER (excess risk) and 95% CI (95% confidence interval) of the total increase of death rate were calculated for every 10 μg/m³ increase of total pollutants. The sensitivity was analyzed by using a double-pollutant model and a multi-pollutant model.

Results  Time series analysis on the result of daily O₃ and the death of population in Yichang in 2014-2016 showed that the increase of every 10 μg/m³ O₃ (Lag 6) would increase the mortality rate by 0.60% (95% CI:0.01%~1.19%).

Conclusions  The increase of ozone pollution in Yichang would have a significant and acute effect on the death of the population.